John 15:12-17

I. Introduction

a. Scripture: John 15:12-17

And as always, I’m going to ask you to stand with me, if you are able, as we read from God’s Holy, Perfect, Sufficient and inerrant Word.

<Pray>

Thank you, and you may be seated.

John 15:12–17 NASB95

“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 would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. “This I command you, that you love one another.

II. Contextualization

a. Feast of the Passover - In the upper room with the Disciples

b. He is there for the Last Supper with them - Just washed their feet

c. He has just predicted His betrayal...”Lord is it I???” All confused - Identified the betrayer with dipped morsel of bread…and it was Judas… - really this was a final a warning to Judas…Jesus washed His feet, shared the Word with Him and warned Him…Judas had time to change his mind...Gives the betrayer permission: - “what you do, do quickly”

d. Jesus sensed that His disciples were troubled and wanted to encourage them…

​ NASB95“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

Let’s them know that He is where there hope is found…and that HE is the only way.

e. Jesus is still there in the upper room…reclining and relaxing w/disciples…will spend a great deal of time there with them over the next couple of chapters, in order to teach them....this is a special time....it is their very last meal together in this life....and that’s where we left off last time....Jesus has been talking to them about the Holy Spirit and they are about to leave that place very shortly, but He has a few closing comments first....and they began last week with this particular discourse with Jesus talking about the Vine and the Branches....today we move on to our current verses for today in verses 12-17.

III. Major Points

1. God’s Love is Our Example

2. Love is Not Optional

3. God Has Chosen YOU to Serve

IV. Point #1: God’s Love is Our Example

Explanation

a. Jesus is still sharing with them:

John 15:12 NASB95

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

vs. 12:

Jesus says to love just as HE has loved the disciples.

b. Question? If we are to love like Jesus loved the disciples, how did Jesus love them? He did that in several ways....here are few:

c. What some call: the “eleventh commandment”

1. He was born for them....His purpose was to save them.

2. He gave them truth…He taught them....shared the Gospel with them.

3. He served them....even though HE is God, He put THEM first.

4. He suffered for them....He allowed Himself to take THEIR punishment

John 15:13 NASB95

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

5. He gave His life for them....

5. He gave His life for them....

John 15:13 NASB95

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

JOhn 15:13

- There is no greater love in this whole then to lay down your life for a friend

Illustration

Complete these common American phrases: If it sounds too good to be true...It is. We make money the old fashioned way, we...earn it. There’s no such thing as a free...lunch. There is no gain without...pain. God helps those who...help themselves.

Everything about the American way of life teaches that you get what you earn in life. You get what you pay for.  We value work, sweat, effort, performance.  It is called the American Work Ethic. And it’s good. The only problem is it causes a difficulty in our relationship with God because God does not relate to us on performance. God does not relate to us based on our effort, our work, our ethic of how much we try. The Bible says that God relates to us and . . . every blessing we have in our lives, comes by grace as a free gift. You don’t earn it, you don’t deserve it, you don’t work for it. It’s just a free gift of God. And the Bible says that everything in your life is a gift of grace.

Application

You say, “Wait a minute. The things I have, I worked for, I earned, I put sweat equity into it.” You wouldn’t have the effort to work, you wouldn’t have the brains to work, you wouldn’t have the energy to work if God didn’t give it to you. Every breath you take is a gift from God.  God doesn’t owe you your next breath of life. You’re going to take it because it’s a gift of Gods grace. 

The Bible is very clear about this, that God saves us by grace, God blesses us by grace, God teaches us by grace, God uses us by grace, God keeps us saved by grace, God takes us to heaven by grace. Everything in my life that’s good is a gift from god. Notice these verses: says, “Whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace on me.”  It’s all because of His grace.  says, “From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.”

You see God LOVES us and shows us His love even in the breaths we take....Jesus showed the disciples love in the ways we mentioned before....and He commands us to love by His example....

How do we do that?

First, understand that it is your purpose to love God and love others....just as Jesus had a purpose to do this, it is your purpose to do that as well....”but Preacher”...

Teach your friends the truth as Jesus did to His disciples....if you have friends you don’t share the Gospel with and you know they aren’t saved, you’re no real friend....who keeps Jesus to themselves? That’s selfish!

Serve others as Jesus did....

Put others before yourself....”humility”....Jesus suffered for the disciples....He suffered for you and me....He put us before Himself…we should do that too.

If it comes down to it....would you give your life for a friend? That’s what Jesus did.

Friends, we are to love like Jesus’ example.

V. Point #2: Love is Not Optional

Explanation

a. Jesus states that Love is a commandment....in fact this is what we call the “Eleventh Commandment”....not a recommendation....not good advise....a commandment. How does that change your understanding of it?

b. You say “well Jesus is my friend” and you stand and sing what a friend we have in Jesus” but JESUS says “if you are my friend you do as I say”....and what did He just say? Love one another....conversely, what is Jesus saying? If you DON’T obey me....if you DON’T love one another, then you are NOT my friend....you do NOT love me....we see that theme over and over again in Scripture....obedience IS love.

c. Here we see love as a commandment....so we must love others in order to love Jesus.

Illustration

At another church where I used to serve, there were two men who did not like each other....They had a falling out one day in the parking lot....it almost turned into a real fist fight. There was some shoving. Those two men would come to church after that, but wouldn’t have a word to say to one another....they would walk on separate sides of the sanctuary just to avoid speaking to one another.

These are two Christian men! Both of them are the first ones in line to pray out loud....or offer others advice....or have something to share in Bible study.

And they can’t even get along....I believe even until this very day.

Application

Are you kidding me? Jesus LOVED us and gave us all He had…even His own life....the LEAST we can do church is get along with one another....we are COMMANDED to get along....the Pastor of that church where I was serving tried to get those two men to work it out and they wouldn’t....

Yall, we are COMMANDED to love one another…do you know why? Because this world is evil and dark enough and hard enough to get through without us Christians contributing to that....being ugly to one another....being intolerant of one another....cutting each other down....God created the Body of Christ so we could serve Him together because we NEED one another...

Church if there is one among you that you have a problem with, you’re supposed to go to them work it out and GET OVER IT! Get back to loving each other. The body can’t function when its parts are in disarray and neither can the Body of Christ.

This isn’t an option....God COMMANDS you to work it out and He didn’t just say it once in verse 12, He said it TWICE…again in verse 17

John 15:17 NASB95

“This I command you, that you love one another.

if He said it more than once, don’t you think it’s important?...you say “well preacher you don’t know just how bad they hurt me” and God says “I DON’T CARE!”....He COMMANDS you to work it out...”well preacher what if THEY don’t want peace with me?” Well then its between THEM and God....but don’t let that prospect stop YOU from doing what you are supposed to do and try. IT’s not easy....nobody said it would be....but we are supposed to love each other....God commands it. It’s not an option. I am so thankful for love here at MBC, aren’t you?

VI. Point #3: God Has Chosen YOU to Serve

Explanation

John 15:16 NASB95

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

a. Jesus tells His disciples that He CHOSE them....what does that mean? LOok at the rest of the verse....”that you would go and bear fruit”....Some who believe in Predestination would point to this verse and say that means God chose us for salvation....but that’s not what the verse says....it says He chose us to bear fruit....what is that fruit?

b. Well to figure that out you read back in the chapter to put it into context: the first part of chapter 15 has Jesus talking about the vine and the branches, doesn’t it? It talks about being connected with Jesus will allow us to have evidence of that in our fruits....what are those fruits? They are the fruits of the spirit that Paul mentioned to the Galatians in Chapter 5 and verses 22-23....I’ll remind you of them....Paul writes:

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

c. In other words: God has chosen you to show forth the fruits of the Spirit and to serve Him in this life....You have been chosen and equipped to serve Him....the way we serve is different....but equally important.

You have been chosen....bought with a price....and you should be eager to serve Him.

Illustration

Many of you may remember the military draft boards that chose who would serve and who wouldn’t during the awful war in Vietnam. Many people ran away to avoid the draft to places like Canada and even Mexico....but the people that I find remarkable aside from those who served against their will, are the soldiers that actually volunteered during that time. Many men and women went and signed up for the military before the draft boards could even call their numbers....and it was not because they necessarily agreed with the war, but instead it was because they were equipped and eager to serve, regardless of the consequences....even the consequences of a deadly and seemingly pointless war.

Application

You know, there is nothing quite like the heart of a volunteer. You see a volunteer is serving because they want to, not because they have to. They will give you all they have....they are invested in their cause....they believe in it....and the scariest thing about them to the enemy is that they will DIE for that cause. A mercenary…he’s there for the pay check....and when times get tough, he’ll hit the road....but not a volunteer. He sticks it out, through and through.

You know, God has equipped you to serve Him.....but He won’t force you. Are you a volunteer in His Kingdom? In His army?....or would He actually have to draft you to force you to serve?

VII. Conclusion

a. Let me ask you this morning, are you serving the God that chose you? Are you showing the fruits of the Spirit that He chose you to show? Are you loving people....outwardly....in the same way Jesus loved you? It’s a commandment you know…what kind of life are you living?

b. Let’s Pray