John 14:15-31

The Motivation

“If you love me you will obey what I command.” There are two ways to take this. The way most people will likely take it would be expanded to read, “The only way to really prove your love for Jesus is to obey His commands.” I’ve certainly heard this taught. This teaching is generally followed up by a laundry list of Jesus’ “commands” from “The Great Commission” to “anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery.” Conspicuously missing is “Love one another as I have loved you.” I don’t think this is the way Jesus intended His words to be taken. If this is what He means then what we have here is basically the Law of Moses 2.0.

The other way to take it would be expanded to read, “The only way you can possibly keep my commands is to love me.” This makes perfect biblical sense. In the next chapter we will hear Jesus say, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” We have already heard Him say, “The Spirit gives life. The flesh counts for nothing.” He also said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” It is a well grounded New Testament concept that we, in ourselves, cannot do anything to please God except to believe. But once we believe in Him, and come to know Him, and fall in love with Him... all things become possible.

I once heard pastor Peter Lord say, “The longer I walk with the Lord the more I realize that it simply comes down to this: Really love Jesus and then do what you want to do.” That blew me away, because it is SO TRUE!

God isn’t really looking for people who can behave. He is looking for people who will love. When it is all about behaving it becomes joyless and lifeless. And even if you do manage to somewhat succeed that only gives rise to a false feeling of entitlement. When it is about loving it is joyful and alive. The feeling is one, not of entitlement, but of wonder and thankfulness. And behaving? Oh yeah, when you know for sure that the Father and Son are moving in with you, you will clean up the house - with joy.