John 15:12-15, Greater Love

15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

Jesus continues his theme of love, now turning to his disciples and how they are to love one another. Effective witness hinges on love between Christians. Their love should be radical love that brings one to consider the other worth the giving up of one’s life. Jesus does not just say this, but actually lays down his own life for his friends, again setting the standard of love. Imagine the disciples thinking back on his words after the resurrection. John was so moved he recorded these very words for us. Oh that we would heed them today in our churches, in our businesses, in our media, in our schools and institutions, and in our families.

Then Jesus lets his disciples know the dignity in which they are held: “I have called you friends.” In which other religion can one say that they are friends of God? Of course most religions call their followers servants, but for Jesus he takes his followers to a deeper level of personal engagement by calling us friends. And we know we are his friends because he shared with us everything the Father has shared with him. In Jesus we are indeed friends with God.

Thank you, Jesus, that I can call you friend and master and Lord.