Jesus began His teaching by urging His disciples to abide in Him like a branch does to a vine. Then He tells of the joy of obedience. He asks the disciples to remain in His love. They can do this by being obedient to His commands. A result of this obedience will be overflowing joy. Thus, Jesus urges them to love one another.
John 15: 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.[1]
Jesus is Our Model
Jesus asks His disciples to do what He is doing. He wants them to become like Him. He can love His disciples because He knows the Father loves Him. Jesus has obeyed every commandment of the Father and thus remained in the Father’s love. In less than twenty-four hours, Jesus will obey the Father by going to the cross out of love for us.
As sinful humans, we can’t obey all of God’s commandments. We want to, but fail. God knows this and has compassionate love for us. He sent Jesus to be our substitute, paying the price for sin, which is missing the mark of obedience. As a result of this kind of love, what can we do to return our love for Jesus? We will want to obey. Love isn’t a mushy, sentimental emotion that can come and go. True love results in action, the action of obedience.
Obedience Results in Joy
Our culture often depicts obedience to God’s commands as drudgery. Many think this kind of life is dull and oppressive. Here, Jesus tells us just the opposite. Obedience results in joy, which is God’s desire for everyone. God knew how He designed us humans and gave us rules to provide us with boundaries to keep us safe. When we live as God created us to live, we will have joy.
This joy surpasses happiness, which is merely a fleeting emotion tied to circumstances. This joy is a result of a steady relationship with Jesus. As we abide in His love, He helps us navigate adversity without yielding to incapacitating lows. We can also enjoy the good times without becoming prideful. This joy keeps us even-tempered on our faith journey.
Remember to Love
Jesus concluded this section by telling them to love each other in the same way He has loved them. Although Jesus knows what will happen in the next few days, His disciples do not. They will need to remember His teachings and love each other to survive the difficult times.
We can’t obey Jesus’ command to love unless we abide in Him. But as we stay connected to Him, He enables us to love. In response to this love, we will desire to obey His will. Obedience isn’t easy, but it is the pathway to true joy. This overflows onto others. Joy is scarce in these times and attractive to others. Our love and joy may give others a longing to know Jesus.
To learn more about the joy of obedience, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/becoming-like-jesus
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Jn 15:9–12). Tyndale House Publishers.