August 30-September 3, 2010

This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12-13

As we continue our journey this week, I’ve been thinking about what has made my Journeys through the Word so special for these last four years. I’ve consistently walked through the pages of the Book since 1969, but it’s been different the last few years. And what has made that difference? I’ve been walking with friends! I think of Laura and Luise, and my sisters and my mom. I love sitting at the breakfast table as Greg and I begin our day feeding our souls and spirits, as well as our flesh. Truly the journey is made sweeter when it is shared with friends.

Jesus understood the power of love and friendship. As He continues to walk the road to Calvary, He sits at a covenant meal and expresses His deepest thoughts with the ones who have walked with Him. They’ve shared some pretty spectacular events together, but now Jesus is sharing His heart. During this heart-revealing occasion there are two words that stand out above all the rest. The first one seems quite evident and I’m sure most of those who are familiar with this portion of our journey would quite readily guess it. Thirty-one times Jesus speaks of “love,” and seven times He talks about friendship. But there is another word that is second runner-up in this Passover evening’s dialogue that may come as a bit of a surprise. The second word to be used most often is the word “IF!” As a matter of fact, much of what Jesus said that night would be a psychologist’s nightmare! Psychology today paints a very humanistic picture of unconditional love. Jesus presents quite a contrasting definition!!! Listen to some of the things He is saying:

IF you love me, you will keep My commandments. (John 14:15)

IF anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our abode with him. (John 14:23)

IF you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. (John 15:10)

You are My friends, IF you do what I command you. (John 15:14)

There seems to be a whole lot of conditions Jesus places on things!!! If you look up the word “if” in the dictionary you find it is a conjunction that introduces a conditional clause. This is the same in every language, including Greek and Hebrew. “IF” means “IF!” “If” is a two-sided coin. Sometimes we only want to look at the positive side, but there are times when we flip the coin we are impacted in a sobering way. Let’s hear the flipside of what Jesus was saying.

If you don’t love Me, you won’t keep My commandments. (John 14:15 flipside)

If anyone doesn’t love me, he won’t keep My word; and My Father will not love him, and will not come to him and make Our abode in him. (John 14:23 flipside)

If you do not keep My commandments, you will not abide in My love; (John 15:10 flipside)

You are not My friends, if you don’t do what I command you. (John 15:14)

One of the statements Jesus made on that night has become so familiar to us that, once again, we have a tendency to look at it through our glasses of preconception. Listen carefully to it again.

“This is My commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

Did you catch it? I have a feeling you missed it again. Let’s try it one more time.

“This is My commandment that you love one another,” (John 15:12)

Almost! But I think many of you are still reading it with the glasses on. Let me see if I can’t help remove them. I think you will get it this time.

“This is MY commandment!!!” (John 15:12)

Now you heard it! You may remember just a short time ago when a man who was an expert in the Law of Moses came to Jesus to test Him and asked Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus responded:

“ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

These commandments were already in the Law and were well known, but Jesus said to His disciples:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34)

The question we should find ourselves asking is, “How does this commandment differ from what was already written in the Law?” Jesus says it is a “new” commandment, and that it is “HIS” commandment. And, further more, if we really love Him, we will do it!!! To solve this mystery, we need to understand “love” from a Hebrew perspective.

Many are familiar with the Greek word “agape” which is translated as love. What many may not realize is that this word was bland and colorless to the Greeks. They preferred the word “Eros” because of its heat and passion. This was the kind of love they defied and desired to perfect. The word “agape” spoke more of love resulting from reason, understanding, and choice. When Jesus spoke to His disciples at the Passover meal, He was not speaking in Greek. Instead of saying “agape” or “agapao,” He would have used the Hebrew word “ahev.” This Hebrew word spanned the gamut of love. It was used for the love of God for His people, the love of a husband, a friend, a neighbor, a child, or even a stranger. The quality and nature of the relationship defines the love. The more value one put on the relationship, the greater the love. God had commanded those who were in covenant with Him to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Because the Hebrew “ahev” could be associated with so many different levels of love, God made sure they understood the quality of love He required; complete love! It was not to be just the kind of love that came from physical attraction, nor the kind of love one would feel for someone they casually knew. He COMMANDED them to love Him from their heart, i.e. a love that is in the very core of their emotions and convictions. Their love was to be from their mind, i.e they should know Him not just in their emotions, but they should understand who He is and know His ways. And they were to love Him with their might, i.e. their love for Him should produce right actions resulting in obedience!!!

The second greatest command was to “love your neighbor as yourself.” If we want to know what this encompassed, all we need to do is go to Leviticus 19:9-18. God gave them clear instructions on the treatment of a neighbor. When Jesus answered the expert on the Law of Moses, he would have been well aware of all that was written in this passage. These laws made provision for the strangers in their midst as well as their countrymen. They were to treat all men as they hoped others would treat them - they were to love them as they loved themselves.

But how did Jesus command differ from the Father’s command contained in the Law? The answer is found in the words He spoke in relationship to this command.

This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:12-17)

Jesus carefully wraps this new commandment with the words of the mandate, “I command you to love one another.” The Law of Moses commanded them to love each other as neighbors – Jesus’ new commandment directed them to love each other as friends! This command is not given to the whole world, but to those that follow Him. Although Jesus’ death on the cross was for the sins of mankind resulting from God’s love for His creation, Jesus said that there was a greater love that spurred Him on. His words were, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends!!!

Jesus had daily walked with His disciples; He shared meals with them, laughed with them, and cried with them. He put up with their bickering and selfish competitiveness with one another. He loved them in spite of their inability to understand His teachings and didn’t give up on them. He healed their families, saved their lives, prayed for them, chastised them, and commended them. He embraced them at a time when He knew that they would all fail Him. He demonstrated the reality of the words, “A friend loves at all times.” (Proverbs 17:17) Is it any wonder that Jesus kept telling them that He would send the Helper, the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit, we would never be able to fulfill this great command. Jesus desires – no, He commands us to love His body as He does! May we cry out for greater understanding as we endeavor to obey Christ’s words,

This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”