Oh to Love Jesus

Last week we mentioned verses in John 14 during our look at being successful in 2021. Though the key verse we honed in on was Rev.3:8, John 14:15, and 16 is what we would like to look at today. Jesus is preparing His disciples for His nearing departure and for Whom they should look forward to receiving. They are troubled and afraid and understandably so.

In verse 15 a conditional promise is shared by Jesus with His disciples, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Keeping the the commandments is not loving Jesus, it is a result of loving Jesus. God's love precedes and enables our love, 1John 4:19. God loves me not because of who I am, but despite of who I am. And how do we love God? This love is of such a nature that it results in the keeping of Jesus's commandments. He mentions this in verse 15, 21, 23, and 24. 

Verse 23 states, "If anyone loves Me, He will keep My word.” Jesus is beautiful, and lovely, and desirable like no one else is. He is without sin, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners. Worthy of all the love to be given to the second person of the Trinity. 

We can desire Him, because He is infinitely desirable. We can admire Him for He is infinitely admirable. He is our treasure, so He is infinitely valuable. He is faithful, so He is infinitely trustworthy. It is enjoying Him because He is infinitely enjoyable. It is always being satisfied with Him because He is infinitely satisfying. He is all that is true, and good and beautiful. Oh to love Jesus. What is there to do, dwell on, or desire more than that!? 

And what are these commandments that Jesus is referring to? "Receive Me (John 1:12), Follow Me (John 1:43), Believe in God (John 14:1), Believe Me (John 14:11), and Abide in Me (John 15:4). If we love Him as mentioned above, we will be sure to receive Him, and follow Him, and abide in Him. 

Verse 16, Jesus says He will ask the Father to give them another Helper that will take His place forever. It will not be the Father, it will not be Him, but He will be called the Spirit of truth, the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The Word for Helper in the Greek is only mentioned one additional time, that also by John in 1John 2:1, there the word Advocate is used. Literally, one summoned alongside, a helper or patron in a lawsuit. Our defender in the courtroom of God is righteous and therefore effective. 

Next week we will see a little more on the Holy Spirit, and all three persons of the Trinity as they relate to the child of God. Oh to love Jesus! James Montgomery Boice states about the Savior, "Our only hope is in that grace of God in which He sends a Redeemer, who instead of being faithless was faithful, instead of being rebellious was obedient, and instead of being filled with pride was One who actually humbled Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Elder Randy Slak