No Greater Love

Jesus’ love for the disciples stands in the same pattern as the Father’s love for him, and they are told to remain in that love.

A⁹s the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.

Keeping his commandments keeps them in his love, as his own obedience keeps him in the Father’s love.

¹⁰If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.

Jesus gives these words so his joy may dwell in them and their joy may be complete.

¹¹I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

His command is that they love one another as he has loved them.

¹²This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

The greatest love gives up life for friends.

¹³Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Those who do what Jesus commands are counted as his friends.

¹⁴You are My friends if you do what I command you.

Jesus no longer treats them as servants but as friends, because he has made the Father’s words known to them.

¹⁵No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.

Jesus chose them and appointed them to go, bear lasting fruit, and ask the Father in his name.

¹⁶You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will remain — so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

He ends the section by repeating the command to love one another.

¹⁷This is My command to you: Love one another.