Some of my favorite scriptures in the Bible are John 14-17, and they are all in red. For those who are unaware, in old school paper, and book-type Bibles, the words of Jesus are often in red. This way, you know without a doubt who is speaking.
These particular passages are among the final words Jesus spoke to His disciples just before going to the cross, and are very powerful. If you are a novice to reading and studying the Bible, start with these verses, they will speak to your heart. Specifically, for this blog, I want to talk about John 15. In the beginning of this chapter, Jesus gives the analogy of abiding in the vine. This is a beautiful picture of understanding our relationship with Jesus and with Father God. Vineyards were common, so the disciples could easily understand this word picture He was drawing. But tucked in amongst this story, is Love. John 15:9-13 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” This morning, I asked the Lord what He wanted me to write about. His response was “Tell them I love them.” In this passage, Jesus is on his way to the most cruel, unbelievable death there was. But this death was the only way to set us free from the grip of the enemy. A sacrifice had to be made so we could have the abundant life and victorious eternity He promised. In this verse, Jesus tells us that He loves us just like His Father loved Him. Then goes on to explain that if we abide in his love, we will have complete joy. The word 'Abide' means to remain, tarry, or not to depart, so basically stay put. When we choose to walk in Jesus ‘commandments’ that He taught throughout His time on this earth, then we will ‘abide’ or remain in His love. Jesus then tells us to love each other as He loved us, and it wasn't a suggestion. How did He love us? Sacrificially. He left heaven to come to this earth and experience every pain and problem we experience. He was fully God, but He was also fully man. And throughout His time on earth, He could have chosen to make his problems disappear, and the pain to go away. But because of His love for us, Jesus chose to go through it all. He went through temptation, trials, misunderstandings, abuse, accusations, ridicule, anger, beating, and a cruel death. All of this was at the hands of the church. What a sacrifice. When He was speaking these words, He knew the worst part of His life on earth was coming. He knew what had to be done. But what does Jesus say in verse 13? “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus was saying “I’m about to show you how much I love you, by laying down my life, literally and physically.” We have forgotten this verse. There is so much turmoil in the world right now and much of it is because the world is so anxious for their opinion to be heard, and their desires to be met. But what if we laid all of that down and just started loving each other the way Jesus loved us. Regardless!!!! Take a moment to think about just how much He loves you. If you don’t know Jesus in that way, please reach out to me. I would love to tell you about His love for you. If you do know Him, then remember what your life was like before you met Him. Think about just how much He has done for you and the joy in your life because of His sacrifice. If you have lost that joy and that love, reconnect with Him by reading the words in red again. Pray and tell Him how much you love Him. Then do what He did…love others sacrificially. Lay down your agenda and take up His, to lay down your life for your friends. Love someone sacrificially today, and maybe make it someone you don’t agree with, or even like. Do something to show them the love of Jesus today…that your joy, His joy, may be full, just like the words in RED!
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI'm a wife, Mom, grandma, teacher, friend... Lived a while and still have some living to do. Archives
October 2021
Categories |