Let’s return to John’s love theme. Well it is Jesus’ actually; John is just recording it for Him.
Where does Bible doctrine come from? How is it that theologians say “this” and ‘that” about certain Bible themes? How can they talk about the doctrine of the “Trinity when the word doesn’t appear in the Bible? These and many other questions are based on Bible teaching. All doctrine or teaching on the themes should come from the Bible. Sadly that is not always the case. I have picked out the references to “love” for you from John 14:21 continuing through the next two chapters. You know now not to stop at chapter boundaries. To fully understand a biblical theme word you must look at all the references. I have not chosen all of the references in John; just the ones around the portion we are looking at currently.
Just to give you the idea of what to do. I could take you on a journey looking at every original word and thoroughly investigating every minute detail. We will do that at the end of John related to the Love theme. But for the moment it is enough for you just to read these verses and take them in.
See if you can spot the Gem in the midst of the theme.
- Joh 14:21 Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them.”
- Joh 14:23 Jesus replied, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them.
- Joh 14:24 Anyone who doesn’t love Me will not obey Me. And remember, My words are not My own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent Me.
- Joh 14:28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved Me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.
- Joh 14:31 but I will do what the Father requires of Me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.
- Joh 15:9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love.
- Joh 15:10 When you obey My commandments, you remain in My love, just as I obey My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- Joh 15:11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
- Joh 15:12 This is My commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
- Joh 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
- Joh 15:17 This is My command: Love each other.
- Joh 15:19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
- Joh 16:27 for the Father Himself loves you dearly because you love Me and believe that I came from God.
I trust you saw clearly the practical way you show that you love God. Did you see the development of the intensity of love to the point where you could take in the magnitude of the greatest love? In fact Jesus is alluding to what He is about to do for you and me. But did you see the Gem in the midst of it all?
Then you will ask in My name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father Himself loves you dearly because you love Me and believe that I came from God.
John 16:26-27
That is a staggeringly wonderful statement. Many of us have the sense that Jesus loves us but God is the Father and He is the authoritarian and wields the big stick of judgement and punishment. So we have to approach this angry father through the love of the son. That is conditioned by the impressions, images and experiences we have of earthly fathers. But catch the significance of this statement.
GOD HIMSELF LOVES YOU!
GOD THE FATHER LOVES YOU DEARLY!
GOD, REMEMBER HIM, THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT GOD LOVES YOU!
Wow let that thought sink into you today. Meditate on it through the day and see what happens to you. My Greek professor used to tell us “Take every verse of Scripture and suck it like a sweetie.” (Yes Prof Brown – I still remember!) Do it with this verse today. I guarantee you will have a great day.
Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
Regina Brett
If we cannot love the person whom we can see how can we love God whom we cannot see?
Mother Theresa
I would rather let my heart be without words than my words be without heart in my worship.
Sidney Mohede