Great Love Equals Great Sacrifice
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· 20 viewsMay 29, 2022 Morning Worship
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning and welcome back!
This morning we are going to be in the Gospel of John, chapter 15, verses 9-17.
And specifically, we gather today as a time of remembrance of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
These are those who have literally "loved their friends" to the point that they were not only willing, but did in fact lay down their lives.
It is because of theirs' and all the other veterans, who made it back home, that we enjoy the freedom and ability to come together and worship together like we have today.
But, what exactly is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873.
By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states.
The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I, when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.
This solidified the fact that Memorial Day is not about division.
It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
And when preparing and praying for this message, the history of Memorial Day brought to mind the spirit and mind of Christ as he addressed his disciples at the moments leading up to His great sacrifice for us all.
It was the purpose and mission of Christ to bring man together in the spirit of love and also reconcile man to God through His eternal sacrifice.
And in John 15-16, we see this in action.
John 15:1-10 focuses on our relationship with Jesus.
John 15:11-17 focuses on our relationship with each other.
John 15:18-16:4 focuses on our relationship with the world.
And we need to have a good understanding of what love is and how love and sacrifice go hand in hand, if we are ever going to be able to understand the actual sacrifice that Jesus has made for each of us.
Not because he had to, but because he loved us enough to.
So, let’s get into it.
John 15, starting in verse 9 . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 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.
Joy Through Obedience
Joy Through Obedience
So, in the first part of the chapter, Jesus is addressing His disciples about the evidence of their salvation and their relationship to Him.
Again, verses 9-11, he says . . .
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
And breaking this down, verses 9-10 serve as a transitional point that Jesus is making.
He has given the example of His relationship to the Disciples, now he will transition to their relationship with one another.
In verse 9, Jesus states that as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.
And we need to think about and try to imagine for a minute just what Jesus is actually saying.
He is comparing the love God has for Him to the love He has for His disciples.
And what exactly was that love?
We get some clues from the Gospel of Matthew.
First, chapter 3 . . .
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
And then in Matthew 17 . . .
Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
So, Jesus is referred by God as His beloved Son.
The Greek word used here is "agapatos" which is a derivative of the word "agape," that we understand as the highest form and expression of love in the Greek language.
So, God loves Jesus in the highest form possible and Jesus tells his disciples that as God loved Him that much, He also loves them that much.
And not only these disciples but the whole world.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
And . . .
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And . . .
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
But, other than understanding the great sacrifice God and Christ made for us, why is this important?
Look closer at what Jesus tells his disciples next part of verse 9-10 . . .
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
He tells them to remain in my love.
And then . .
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
And this is important for us to understand as Christians because by remaining in His love, they would also love mankind with that high form of love.
Which is, in itself the fulfillment of the “Great Commandment” to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love others as ourselves.
It is how it is possible for the disciples and for us to carry out and live out the Great commandment.
It is also though a call to be obedient to Christ.
Not because they have to, but because they love Christ and they love humanity as well.
And the end result for them is experiencing the complete joy, that Jesus talks about in verse 11.
And this joy is present, in spite of persecution and hard times that they would all face. This is not "happiness" but rather "pure joy."
This is the joy and peace that comes when we know that God is pleased with us.
This is the peace and joy that comes when we know that God is behind us.
This is the peace and joy that comes when we know that no matter what happens, eternity is ours!
Which is why Jesus tells them . . .
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
The Greatest Love
The Greatest Love
And what exactly is the highest form of that love?
How do we love each other as Jesus has loved us?
He actually tells us in verses 13-14 . . .
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.
But how do we do that?
Does Jesus mean that we should all look to be martyrs for the cause?
Well, it does literally means being willing to die for those we love.
Christ died for all of us.
Many have died on the battlefield to secure ours and other's freedom.
Parents have died many times for their children.
Police and Firemen risk their lives and die for strangers every day.
Ordinary people on the street willing to help others have died trying to help.
So, there is a literal sacrifice that Christ is referring to, but it goes much, much deeper than that.
It is also our willingness to let our will and our desires die to God’s will and God’s desires for us.
Paul says . . .
I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And Jesus in Luke 14 . . .
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Now does Jesus want us to “hate” our family and friends?
No, what is missing in translation is Jesus wants us to put Him first.
To die to self every day for his purposes.
This is the willingness to die that Jesus is talking about.
It is the willingness to forsake everything that we want and be "all in for Christ."
It is turning loose of everything in our lives and letting God be in complete control.
It is that "S" word we call SANCTIFICATION.
It is how we gain victory.
And, through victory we gain joy.
Not necessarily happy goose-bumps, but real joy and peace in our lives!
When we are able to do that our attitude and our status in Christ will change.
Chosen For a Purpose
Chosen For a Purpose
And then we can realize and fulfill the next part of what Jesus is talking about here . . .
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.
So, Jesus tells them that they are not servants.
The word "servant" here means, "slaves."
Jesus tells them, they are not slaves.
-Slaves just do what they are told.
They don't really know what is going on.
Instead, they are friends of Jesus, friends of God.
And the reality is that all disciples of Jesus are friends of God.
We have, like the disciples, have been granted the knowledge of the gospel truth.
We are without excuse, but are privileged to know the truth.
And what does the truth do for us?
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Jesus also says . . .
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Knowing the truth is knowing Jesus.
And the reality is, this is a special friendship but it also carries a special responsibility.
And the fact is, we did not choose Christ, but rather He chose us.
Not only did He choose us but He ordained us (gave us a job).
That job was that we go and bring forth fruit.
Not fruit that will rot and wither away, but fruit that will be everlasting and remain.
Altar/Challenge
Altar/Challenge
And the last thing Jesus left them with in this passage was . . .
This is my command: Love each other.
So, this morning I wonder, do you consider yourself a “friend of God?”
Abraham was . . .
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
And so was Moses . . .
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
And guess what?
If you are a child of God, you are a friend of God.
But to be a friend of God, you first have to be a child of God.
Memorial Day is about remembering what others have sacrificed for us.
Do you know what Jesus has sacrificed for all of us?
Do you accept His sacrifice?
Do you fulfill his command to “love one another?”
Are you willing to lay down your will for His will?
Those are the questions today, what will your answer be?
Let’s pray . . .