John 15:(9)10-14
I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done – kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love. I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy may be your joy and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. John 15:(9)10-14 (MSG)
How wonderful it is to be assured of Jesus’ love and to be encouraged to “be at home” in that love.
And yet, as I reflect on this Scripture, I get caught on the word ”command”. Isn’t it a normal out-flowing of the love received that one would want to naturally love others? Or is it? I think Jesus is following through on what his love really means. Rather than allowing us to get stuck on ourselves as we can so easily do, just enjoying being wrapped in his love, we need to offer it to others, so that our “joy may be complete” and “full” and “wholly mature”.
And then because we need to know what this really means, he tells us how we are to love, to love as he has loved us! - “to put our life on the line” or as the NRSV says, “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Well, he has certainly given us an image of what that could mean as he gave himself for us in a large way. . .on the cross! But unless we are in a war-torn country or terrorist zone or another kind of disaster (natural or otherwise), we probably won’t have the ultimate opportunity to give our lives in death. Well, that doesn’t necessarily let us off the hook, does it? There are so many other ways we can give of ourselves to others, ways that may even be life-saving.
I know you know this and I am sure you are already living out the love of Jesus – at home, with friends, at your job/school, on errands, and in your volunteer time. It is still worth reflecting on and asking yourself what more can you do.
Questions for Reflection:
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When do you most feel “at home” in Jesus’ love?
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Reflect on how you are living out your life for others. Is there anything you would like to change?
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Is there something new you would like to do or are feeling compelled to do?
Prayer
Gracious and Loving God,
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the love you have shown to us in Jesus, for his example, his words, his life. And thank you for your Holy Spirit who shows us every day how we can share Your love with others, in small ways with big hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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