John 15:12-27

READ 12-17

12

Ref:

John 13:34 “34 “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 15:17 “17 “This I command you, that you love one another.”

1 John 3:23 “23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”

2 John 5 “5 Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.”

Instruction for the disciples

Sent to compete? Dispute? Quarrel?

Sent to love

13

Ref:

John 10:11 “11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

For when a man gives up his life, he gives up all that he has. It is the greatest demonstration of love. It is the greatest demonstration of sacrifice

14-15

No longer slaves, but friends.

1. The disciples have been shown the will of God

2. The disciples are “partners” with God

3. The disciples are appointed for God’s glory

Just because they obtained a status of friendship, doesn’t mean they can disobey the commands of God… don’t get it twisted. We aren’t on equal ground, we aren’t authoritative by ANY means!

16

Ref:

John 6:70 “70 Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?””

John 13:18 “18 “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’”

Concerning fruit:

John 15:5 “5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

~~~

19

Ref:

Matthew 10:22 “22 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”

Matthew 24:9 “9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”

20

If the master is persecuted, then so too will you be persecuted.

“The slave is not above/greater than the master”

IF… they persecute me, they will persecute you… Was Jesus persecuted?

IF… they kept my word, they will keep yours also

21

Ref:

John 8:19 “19 So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.””

John 16:3 “3 “These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.”

22

Ref:

John 9:41 “41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

John 15:24 “24 “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.”