LOVE IN FOUR DIMENSIONS
John 15:9-17
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: Wrong Impressions
1. A well-known minister was invited to speak at a city council meeting on a Friday afternoon, since he was in town to preach all weekend. Knowing he would be repeating some of the same jokes on Sunday, he requested the newspaper reporter in attendance not include them in her article.
2. On Sunday morning there was a nice write-up about the visiting minister, with this unfortunate ending: “The minister told a number of funny stories that we simply could not publish.”
B. THESIS
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 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. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:9-17
C. THESIS
1. In John 15:9-17, the Lord Jesus talks about four kinds of love: the Father’s love for Christ, Christ’s love for us, the disciples love for Christ, and the disciples love for each other.
2. The title of this message is “Love In Four Dimensions.”
I. THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR JESUS
Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.”
1. This statement is colossal! It is astounding beyond belief! We know that the love between God the Father and His Only Begotten Son (Gr. “Mono-genes”) is both eternal and infinite in its depth. Its tenderness of feeling and raw emotion are revelations of Scripture. There can be no human love even faintly similar to the love of God to His Son.
2. Yet Jesus tells us that HIS LOVE FOR US is identical to the love the Father has for Him! It’s width must span the universe and surpass it; its intensity must be brighter than the brightest Star; its origin must predate the dawning of Creation! There could never have been a time that Jesus didn’t love us intensely!
3. If it seems certain that the Father loves the Son, then you can accept the same certainty that Jesus loves YOU in the same manner. The Lord’s statement is meant to give us confidence that we are loved. It was Jesus’ love for us that required Him to decide to die for us before the creation of the world.
4. Just as the Father could never banish His Son who loves Him, neither will the Lord Jesus ever turn away from you if you love Him. God says, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.... Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed,” Isa. 49:16; 54:10, NIV. Praise God!
5. It’s an intimate and unlimited love; to this ocean there is neither shore nor bottom. Jesus loves us forever and without limit!
II. JESUS’ LOVE FOR HIS DISCIPLES
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” John 15:13.
A. THE SPECTACULAR LOVE OF JESUS
1. See the great condescension of Christ: the Father loved Him, who was most worthy, and He loved us, who were least worthy!
2. He proved His love for us by laying down His “psuche,” His individual life for us, dying in our place (v. 13). Greater proof can no one show than this, to lay down their life for their friend. He gave His all, though He knew our bankruptcy, and foresaw the terrible cost to Himself.
3. It’s the highest degree of love, as strong as death. This surpassing love of Christ is beyond all other loves. He not only equaled, but exceeded, the most ardent lovers of all time.
4. Others have laid down their lives for lives of equal value, but rarely do people lay down a valuable life for a worthless one. But the life of Jesus was worth more than the whole human race! Others have laid down their lives for their friends, but Christ laid down his life when we were His enemies, Rom. 5:8,10.
B. WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS!
1. Christ takes believers as his friends; He visits them, converses with them, bears with them and makes the best of them; He’s afflicted in their afflictions, and takes pleasure in their prosperity.
2. He pleads their case in heaven and sends down answers to their prayers. He’s a friend that loves at all times. Think of the honor Christ puts upon us, in making known his plans to us: “All things that I have heard of my Father I have declared unto you.’’
3. Christ loved his disciples, for he chose and ordained them to be the instruments of his glory and honor in the world (15:16). Those whom Christ ordains should and shall be fruitful.
III. THE DISCIPLES LOVE FOR JESUS
“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love” (10).
A. JESUS WANTS US TO “REMAIN” & “BE FRUITFUL”
1. "Continue in your love to me, and in mine to you.’’ It’s our duty to continue to demonstrate the proofs of our love to Christ – not allowing anything to tempt us or dissuade us from resolutely following Him. We should continue in our faithfulness to Him. “Remain in My love.”
2. Fruitful and faithful disciples are the joy of the Lord Jesus. As there is joy in heaven in the conversion of sinners, so there is continuing joy in the perseverance of the saints.
3. Christ wants your joy to be FULL – to rise higher and higher until it reaches perfection when you enter into the joy of your Lord.
B. THE PROOF OF YOUR LOVE FOR JESUS
1. “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love” (15:10); “You are my friends if you do the things I command you” (Greek on 15:14).
2. The foremost evidence Jesus says proves our love is keeping his commandments. The only people who are counted by Christ to be His friends are those who are obedient to His words. Friendship can’t be all on one side; it can only exist where there is a response, a reciprocation of love.
3. It’s the highest honor in the world to be called the friend of Christ. There’s no title that excels that given to Abraham, who was called, “The friend of God.”
4. This statement of Christ transfigures obedience. Here Jesus tells us how precious obedience is: He doesn’t esteem our large financial gifts, our working in the church, the use of our talents, or our promotion of morals – what He holds highest as a mark of our friendship is our obedience. The test of friendship with Him is, “If you are obedient, you are my friends.”
C. WHAT DOES THIS OBEDIENCE LOOK LIKE?
1. ACTIVE OBEDIENCE. “You are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you” (KJV). Some think it is quite sufficient if they avoid what He forbids. “I’m not a drunkard, or a thief; I’m not promiscuous, nor a liar.” That’s all good, but if you want to be Jesus’s friend, He requires much more than this. In the Parable of the Sheep & Goats (Matt. 25), nothing is said about negative virtues, but only positive actions – “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Jesus says, “Show me the proof of your love by obeying Me.”
2. CONTINUOUS OBEDIENCE. He doesn’t say, “If you sometimes do what I command you—on Sundays, for instance, that will be enough.” NO. We’re to keep His statutes every day and to the end of our lives. We’re not saved by works, but by Jesus’ death on Calvary; but He has the right, as Lord, to choose who He elects to life, and the terms of our election.
3. UNIVERSAL OBEDIENCE. “You are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.” As soon as we discover what Christ’s will is on any subject, we should immediately say, “I will do it,” and then do it. We don’t pick and choose which precepts we’ll keep and which we’ll ignore, for that’s self-will and not obedience. He said “whatsoever.” He didn’t say, “Just cover the main points and that will be alright.”
4. He may point out something very small; that small thing, not obeyed, can become what separates between you and God. As soldiers used to say, “Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do & die.” “You are not your own; you’ve BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE.” A dead man laying in a coffin will never sin, because he’s not alive to this world. Your life is not your own, so follow the orders of your Savior! Let there be no question, no hesitation, and no delay.
5. WE OBEY CHRIST HIMSELF. If we were just disobeying an earthly king, it would be serious; but to disobey the King of Kings, who holds our life and eternity in His hands – nothing could be more dire.
6. IT’S THE PRODUCT OF FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST. Friends spend time together. “Can two walk together unless they’re agreed?” If we know that we have erred and grieved our all-knowing Friend, and we should go, tell Him our grief, and set it straight. He will quickly blot out our offenses; but if try to deceive Him, He will withdraw from us.
IV. THE DISCIPLES LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.... This is my command: Love each other” John 15:12,17.
A. A NEW COMMANDMENT
Jesus urged His disciples to mutual love, and for good reason.
1. First, because it was Christ’s pattern (v. 12): “as I have loved you.” Our observation of His love for His church should inspire and encourage us to love each other. Such an example of love to the undeserving by our “Lord and Master” should inspire us to love as He did.
2. He also adds His COMMAND to love each other. This close kinship is not only commanded, but is stated to be the most necessary of all His commandments.
3. Just as the shunning of idolatry was the central commandment of the O.T., (because it was the weakest point of that people), so Christ, foreseeing our tendency toward selfishness, made love for one another His central command.
B. THE “GOD-KIND-OF” LOVE
1. In both verses 12 & 17, the Lord used the Greek word “agape” to describe the type of love we’re to have. He didn’t use the lower form, phileo, which is a selfish love.
2. So we’re supposed to exhibit the same type of love God has for us – selfless love. The only way we can have this love is by divine impartation, in other words, we must first receive this love from Christ and then share it with others.
3. That’s why we must abide in the Vine of Jesus Christ – then we can love with the same love He has for us.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: A Living Message
1. Vincent Van Gogh was not always an artist. In fact, he wanted to be a church pastor and was even sent to the Belgian mining community of Borinage in 1879. He discovered that the miners there endured deplorable working conditions and poverty-level wages. Their families were malnourished and struggled simply to survive.
2. He felt concerned that the small stipend he received from the church allowed him a moderate life style, which, in contrast to the poor, seemed unfair. One cold February evening, while he watched the miners trudging home, he spotted an old man staggering toward him across the fields, wrapped in a burlap sack for warmth.
3. Van Gogh immediately laid his own clothing out on the bed, set aside enough for one change, and determined to give the rest away. He gave the old man a suit of clothes and he gave his overcoat to a pregnant woman whose husband had been killed in a mining accident. He lived on starvation rations and spent his stipend on food for the miners. When children in one family contracted typhoid fever, though feverish himself, he packed up his bed and took it to them.
4. A prosperous family in the community offered him free room and board. But Van Gogh declined the offer, stating that it was the final temptation he must reject if he was to faithfully serve his community of poor miners. He believed that if he wanted them to trust him, he must become one of them. And if they were to learn of the love of God through him, he must love them enough to share with them.
5. He was acutely aware of a wide chasm, which can separate words and actions. He knew that people's lives often speak louder and clearer than their words. Maybe it was that same knowledge that led Francis of Assisi to frequently remind his monks, "Wherever you go, preach. Use words if necessary." [Steve Goodier]
B. THE CALL
1. How is your love for Christ? Have you been proving it by your obedience?
2. Have you been showing God’s love to fellow-believers in need? As John said, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” 1 John 3:17.
3. Let’s pray that God will impart His divine love to us today. Prayer for salvation and a baptism of love.
[Section III drew on Charles Spurgeon’s message, “The Friends of Jesus” on John 15:14.]
