If you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15)

We noticed previously that Jesus, in speaking about the greater works that were to mark the lives of his disciples, mentioned three factors that they had to take into account: prayer in his name, obedience to his commandments, and the blessing of the Holy Spirit. It is the second issue that I want us to look at on this occasion.

1. A definition of a disciple

First, note that Jesus gives here another definition of a disciple. In the previous verses, he had said that a disciple was a person who believed in him, that is, who depended upon Jesus in light of information about him. In this verse, he says that a disciple is a person who loves him. Again we are reminded that a disciple’s relationship to Jesus is not a dispassionate one. It is possible to trust in a person without loving him, for example, a politician or a military leader. But that is not the kind of trust that disciples have in Jesus. Instead their faith is, as Calvin put it, ‘the warm embrace of love.’

2. Essential for balanced Christian experience

It is important for us to keep together the three factors of prayer, obedience and the help of the Spirit. Obedience is necessary for having our prayers answered. John says in 1 John 3:22: ‘and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.’ There can be several reasons why our prayers are not answered, such as God’s sovereign decision to say no to our request. Yet it is the case that disobedience to his revealed will results in our prayers not being heard. That is a solemn reality.

There is also a link between loving obedience and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. ‘This connection seems designed to teach that the proper temple for the indwelling Spirit of Jesus is a heart filled with that love to Him which lives actively for Him, and so this was the fitting preparation for the promised gift’ (David Brown). Disobedience to Christ’s commands causes us to grieve the Holy Spirit, with the consequence that we will not experience his blessings until we have repented.

3. An answer to two modern problems

This instruction of Jesus strikes a blow at two of the common problems facing the church today: legalism and licence. What is the basic outlook of each of these problems? Legalism thinks that Jesus has not given sufficient commandments, therefore adds some of its own. License thinks that Jesus has given too many commandments, so proceeds to ignore many or all of them. When faced by these problems, we are not to think that one is less sinful than the other. Both are deadly. A curse is pronounced on those who add to Christ’s words as on those who take away from them (Rev. 22:18-19).

4. A useful means of self-examination

If love results in obedience, then it means that those who desire to obey Christ as he wishes do love him. ‘And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.  Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him’ (1 John 2:3-5). Those who are concerned about their relationship to Christ can use this test as a sure way of knowing whether or not they love him.  The fruit indicates the nature of the root.  Obedience tells that we love him.

5. Accompanied by penitence

Fifth, these above points show that the obedience that Jesus is speaking about is a sanctified obedience and not a sinless obedience. In this life, no disciple loves Jesus sinlessly, no disciple always keeps the three factors in balance, no disciple always escapes from legalism and license, and no disciple is always obedient in every situation. Jesus is not describing perfection, but progression in dedication to his revealed will.

Because this is the case, every disciple should be marked by ongoing penitence. His sense of sin and failure will cause him to confess his faults to God. The verses above that were cited from 1 John 2 follow on from verses which describe confession of sin and our need of Jesus as our Advocate.

6. What are the commandments of Jesus?

We could begin the answer to this question by mentioning particular practices that he introduced, such as baptism and the Lord’s Supper, that he required his disciples to keep. We could add to them the various commands that he gave to his disciples to trust in him for salvation. A passage that gives help in assessing what are his commandments is the Sermon the Mount. In Matthew 5–7, there are teachings on topics such as prayer and almsgiving. Also in that passage, Jesus teaches how the law of God should be applied in our hearts; for example, the sixth commandment forbids anger and rash words as well as the actual act of murder; the seventh commandment forbids immoral thoughts as well as immoral actions. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that he had not come to destroy the law but to fulfil it, which indicates that he included it in his teaching.

What does this statement say about Jesus? Obviously he claims to be a master over his disciples. Yet he is not like other teachers who had followers. None of them claimed to have divine authority over their disciples. But Jesus does claim such a position. This verse is evidence that Jesus claimed to be God.

7. Why do the disciples love Jesus?

As we have noted, it says two things. First, they love Jesus and, secondly, they obey Jesus. Why do his disciples love Jesus? They love him for many reasons.

First, he has brought them into a new relationship with God. Before they met Jesus, they were strangers to God and under his condemnation. Like the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, they love much because they are forgiven much.

Second, he has brought them into a near relationship with God. They become his children and are able to draw near to him as to a Father.

Third, they love Jesus because he first loved them. He loved them before time, in the eternal ages before any creature existed. Then his heart thought about them. He loved them in time, as the seeking shepherd who sought each of his people lost in his or her sin. The more they think about what Jesus did out of love for them, the more they increase in love to him.

8. What is Christian loving obedience?

It is clear from this verse that love must come first in the Christian life; it is the superior grace. Obedience without love is unacceptable. This is clearly stated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, a chapter that reveals that individuals can show great fortitude, great faith, great activity and other features, all without love. This is a call to inward religion. The greater our love, the greater will be our obedience. When we think of loving obedience as superior, this is a reminder that even faith works by love.

Christian loving obedience is simple. Jesus does not give complicated requirements. His teachings are straightforward; they clearly reveal what is right and what is wrong. The words of Mary to the servants at the wedding apply to us all, ‘Whatever he says to you, do it.’ The fact that Christ’s commands are simple to understand does not mean that they may not cause difficulties if obeyed. This leads to the next point.

Christian loving obedience is sacrificial. When a command of Jesus brings the possibility of conflict, what is the Christian to do? He is not to use the likely difficulties as a reason for disobedience. Obedience to Christ may be costly in terms of employment (doctors out of obedience to Jesus may lose their jobs because they will not perform abortions; shop workers may lose their jobs because they will not disobey the fourth commandment).

But it is not only sacrificial in terms of these financial problems. A Christian has to live up to Christ’s standards in speech, in dress, in hobbies, in every area of life. This may result in mockery or disdain. When these things happen, only love to Jesus will keep the believer loyal.  

Christian loving obedience is also steadfast. By this I mean that it continues year in, year out. With love in the heart to Jesus, there will be a determination to obey him, an unwavering commitment to him.

As we close, let us think in what ways believers give loving obedience to Jesus. First, they keep Christ’s commands eagerly and not reluctantly. Second, they keep them comprehensively and not selectively. Third, they keep them visibly and not merely inwardly. Fourth, they keep them dependently and not proudly.

How do we develop a love for Christ that will result in obedience? I would suggest that we need to engage often in contemplation of what he has done for us (meditation on the Bible), that we need to enjoy his companionship day by day (pray specifically for his presence wherever we go), and that we need to practise whatever his word tells us to do.