I am the Vine, You are the Branches:  Alleluia, Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

If last week’s lesson ended on the note of disciples glorifying God the Father through the bearing of “much fruit,” then this week’s continuation that fruit fairly bursts open as an authentic exercise of love. Love is to be seen above all in the love of the Father as shown forth in the love of the Son. Our thoughts are intentionally directed back to the announcement of the depth of God’s love for the world as evidenced in the giving of the Son.

How does Jesus describe the love He has for us as His disciples? Our Lord declares that His love for each of His disciples is patterned after the Father’s love for Him: “Just as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you.” Scripture indicates that this is a self-revealing, self-sharing love. The Father shared with Jesus all that He is doing and reveals that because of His love for His Son, the Father put all things in obedience to Him.

What does Jesus command us to do as His disciples, and how does He instruct us to do this? Our Lord declares that we as His disciples are commanded to “remain” (or, continue) in His love. As disciples, we are to obey Christ by keeping Christ’s commandments. Obedience, however, is the obligation of the covenant and of citizenship in the kingdom of God (Ephesians 2:8-10; Psalm 103:17-18). Furthermore, the Lord Jesus graciously supplies us with all we need to fulfill this obligation; namely, the provision of His Holy Spirit and His grace (2 Peter 1:3).

What specific commandment does our Lord present to His disciples in John 15:12-13? The Lord Jesus focuses our attention upon one specific commandment, one specific way we are to render obedience to Him: the commandment to practice love. It is to be patterned after our Lord’s own love for us: our Lord’s love for us is a sacrificial love (John 15:13). 

Prayer:  Creator God, continue to guide us to love, to remain in an attitude of love toward all people, to show love to our communities, to our families, to those who do not show us love, and most importantly to ourselves. Help us now and always to remain in your love. Amen.