Great Love

John 15:12-17
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other."

This passage begins with Jesus giving a command for His disciples to love each other as He has loved us. He followed this command with an example of love, to give one's life for his friends, and then called us His friends if we obey His commands. A few chapters later, Jesus was beaten and crucified; He fulfilled His example of great love by giving His life for our sake. Jesus said that He no longer called us servants because servants do not know their master's business, but called us friends because He has made known to us everything He learned from God.

Jesus continued on to say that we did not choose Him, but He chose us. Even if we made the choice to follow Him, He chose us and gave us a purpose in His plan. He gave us the job of bearing fruit that will last. To understand what Jesus meant by "fruit," we have to look back a few verses to John 15:8, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." Our "fruit" is our legacy as Christ followers, being living examples of Christ's love. Jesus gave His disciples (which includes us) the job of bearing good fruit that will last--leaving a legacy of His love. We cannot do this by ourselves; we must remain in Jesus to be examples of His love.

This passage closes the same way it began, with Jesus giving His command to love each other. He emphasized His command because it is so very important. In order to draw others to Christ, we must act like Him and show everyone His incredible love. How can you show Christ's love to those around you? How can you leave a legacy so that the generations to come will want to follow a God with such great love?

I hope you have a wonderful week and find ways to love others in keeping with Christ's command.

Blessings, Caitlin