Commanded To Love - Commissioned To Serve

COMMANDED TO LOVE

COMMISSIONED TO SERVE

Preached by

Rev. Kelvin L. Parks

at Greater Faith Church-Baptist, Waukegan, Illinois

on Wednesday, 21 February 2007

John 15:12-17

(v.12) This is my commandment, That ye love one

another, as I have loved you.

(v.13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a

man lay down his life for his friends.

(v.14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I

command you.

(v.15) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the

servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I

have called you friends; for all things that I

have heard of my Father I have made known unto

you.

(v.16) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,

and ordained you, that ye should go and bring

forth fruit, and that your fruit should

remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the

Father in my name, he may give it you.

(v.17) These things I command you, that ye love one

another.

Subject: COMMANDED TO LOVE

COMMISSIONED TO SERVE

We see here in our text Jesus addressing His disciples on His way to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He would later be arrested and then crucified.

John, Chapter 15 starts with Jesus giving His disciples a parable (which is a heavenly story with an earthly meaning) about a vine and some branches.

Now in our text we read where Jesus has transitioned from a parable to a commandment. We will discover as we examine our text tonight that Jesus not only gives His disciples a commandment but He also commissions them for service.

Well, what is this commandment -- watch this …

(v.12) This is my commandment, that ye love one another, WATCH THIS (HOW) as I have loved you.

Well … this commandment begs two questions …

1st how has He loved us?

2nd why is it important that we love one another?

Well ... I’m glad you asked, the answer to our first question can be found in (vv.13-15)

(v.13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a

man lay down his life for his friends.

(v.14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I

command you.

(v.15) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the

servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I

have called you friends; for all things that I

have heard of my Father I have made known unto

you.

This just simply means that ...

- if you love me … you would be willing to put it all on the line.

- If you love me … you would be willing to go wherever, do whatever, and speak to whomever I command you to.

- If you love me.

Walk with me …

(v.14) We sing songs about our friendship. However, it sounds to me like Jesus is saying in our text, thanks, but no thanks I don’t need another Toni Braxton "sad love song." What I need right now is a few good friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. And what is the command (v.12) that WE love one another.

(v.15) Watch the benefits of friendship. you see … there is no secrets in our friendship; no surprises, yes we are BFFL (best friends for life); no hidden agendas, no scouts honor pledges needed; no spitting in the hand; no pinky finger promised required; everything that I know, you know -- In fact, I’m willing to die for all of my friends.

As one song writer so eloquent said: What a friend we have in Jesus. In fact, the Bible is filled with stories about friendship.

- Abraham was a friend of God

- Moses and Jethro

- David and Jonathan

- Elijah and Elisha

- Paul and Timothy

- Jesus and Lazarus …

Well preacher … you still have not quite answered my question. I need to know how has He loved us … and it sounds to me as if you are now suggesting that I too need to be willing to die…

Well … allow me to pause and move out of the way and call on John for some help -- come here John

I John 3:16-17 helps us to understand just how Jesus loved us.

(v.16) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Verse 17 of I John 3 goes on to tell us about our responsibility.

(v.17) But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Okay preacher, I give you that, but what about the second question, why is it important that we love one another?