The Name You Can Rely On Series

Several decades ago, Gary Campman wrote about five love languages. They are words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts. These five love languages describe different ways people give and receive love. Each of us has a primary love language, and often, our partner has a different language than we do. Since its release, it has been reprinted numerous times and translated into dozens of languages. It’s been expanded into versions for singles, children, teens, and the workplace.

Pause for a moment and consider your relationship with Jesus Christ, your Savior and Lord. For those of you who have a relationship with Jesus through the cross, give a minute to this question. What is Jesus’ primary love language?

Find John 14 with me, but put a bookmark at 1 Samuel 15 as well.

Husbands and boyfriends, move from the heavenlies to the earthly for a moment. Do you know your wife’s or your girlfriend’s primary love language? I’m not asking the ladies, because men are too easy ?. You either have to ask her or study her in order to figure it out. Wouldn’t it be easier if she just told you?

Listen carefully for Jesus’ primary love language.

Today’s Scripture

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:18-26).

Remember, this is all happening the night before Jesus is murdered. It reminds you of how someone will linger at an airport with a friend or a family member until they almost miss their plane. Had you been there, you might think it was an ordinary conversation Jesus was having with the Disciples. He had taught them dozens and dozens of times before. But a few minutes into His speech, you can sense Jesus’ intensity. This was different.

This passage is so rich, and there is so much here. We cannot possibly get to it all.

1. Jesus Repeats Himself

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (John 14:21).

1.1 The Setting

These words in John 14:15–24 were spoken just hours before the greatest event in world history. They were spoken just hours before the greatest act of love in history – the death of the Son of God. This isn’t just a pre-game pep talk. The atmosphere is far weightier than a coach’s locker room speech. Jesus knows the cross is hours away, and He chooses to repeat one theme over and over. Jesus kept telling the Disciples all night essentially the same message: “I’m leaving, and you cannot come with me.”

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:18-19).

The Disciples were confused. This was an action-packed night. They had taken the Lord’s Supper together. Jesus had washed their feet only minutes before. Judas was only minutes from betraying Jesus. And Peter would deny Jesus only moments from our account.

1.2 Repetition

In the midst of all this, Jesus repeats Himself. Teachers will tell you that there is no tool like repetition. Jesus repeats the same thought five times in the matter of a few verses:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do” (John 14:12a).

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me” (John 14:21a).