John 15:12-16:4 (Friendship with Jesus)
Final
thoughts – Love is a key word in this section – used 16 times in Ch. 13-16 John got the message!
Key subject with John - He uses the word love
42 in his 3 epistles – total of 7 Chapters
A)Total of 132 verses – so
he is talking about love every 3.5 verses
B)Why so much emphasis on
love! – Heart of Jesus – 2 commandments
C) No love noisy gong!
- Not very appealing.
D)
1)
The Primary fruit that we are going to bear is the fruit of Love!
12 This is My
commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to
lay down one's life for his friends. 14
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you
servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have
called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made
known to you.
A)Now here the Lord introduces
a new idea – He says to his disciples – I no
longer call you servants – but I call you friends
B) “Because He is
Lord & Master He has every right to call us servants
1)–
But He has chosen to call us friends
Now this wasn’t just a casual
statement – One full of great significance and meaning.
C) This was a very special
and unique title: Biblically speaking – In the OT there is only one person who was
given that special title of the friend of God –
1)
That was Abe
D)
Jesus includes his disciples in that special – group and this really now
applies to any believer in Jesus Christ – Title of the friend of Jesus
1)
Hymn – What a friend we have in Jesus
But
the title also Bears significance in the Culture of the day.
A)William Barclay &
Kittles give us insight as it relates to the Roman Emperors and Eastern Kings
“At these courts there was a very select
group of men who were called “The friends of the king, or the friends of the
Emperor. At all times they had access to
the king. They even had the right to come into his bedchamber at the beginning
of the day. - The friends of the king were those who had the closest & the
most intimate connection with him, and who had the right to come to him at any
time.”
So Jesus wasn’t being sentimental –
here: Making an important observation. Shift in their relationship
A)Their
following – their service – their keeping on – was to be motivated by a special
friendship
If you visit
B)Jesus invites us to share in that same kind of special
relationship
The text gives us
insight into some of the evidences & Characteristics of being a friend of
Jesus. 6 things
#1 Friendship with Jesus is evidenced by obedience 14 You are My friends
if you do whatever I command you.
A)Now although
this primarily speaks of obedience – there is also depicted for us in this
verse the idea of the mutual heart.
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you
shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no
one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
Now it is
there that Paul describes Timothy as being Likeminded – another translation
puts it a Kindred Spirit.
A)Literally one souled!
B) Timothy was of the same heart / mind / spirit as
Paul
1) Loyal to Paul and a good representative of Paul.
C) I believe that is also the idea here – the
disciples keep His commandments – because
they caught His heart
1) Their obedience wasn’t just out of Duty – but
sprung from the devotion of their friendship
D) That is a
key to healthy discipleship – and ministry.
E)So Not just a condition – If you are my
friends – you will keep my commandments
1) But more the evidence of the fact that they are
his friends – evidenced
by their willingness to keep his commandments
It is one thing to have pp who do what you ask because you
are the “Boss” - But it is another thing
– When you are friends { That motivates
A)Over time I
have forged a special friendship with some of our guys that minister here with
me!
1)
B) Loyal They do what I ask – based more on friendship
than anything else
1) Loyalty there that is special – Die for each
other.
C) That is a
special feeling – Kindred Spirits – Same soul –
Blessing!
D) So first
evidence : Friendship with Jesus is marked by obedience.
Evidence
#2 Friends of Jesus love like Jesus.
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I
have loved you.
A)Notice it’s a commandment—which means love is not a matter of
emotion, but it is a choice.
B) Jesus
doesn’t ever command us to feel something. He commands us to do something.
C)Our friendship with Christ is going to be evidenced by our
actions – not only our words –
1) Primary action is love for One another.
D) Now this is
where so many in the Church struggle – Respond so much by feelings.
1)How can I show love to that
person – I don’t feel anything for them – don’t like them is how I feel.
But
Jesus’ teaching, love is not so much an emotion as a decision.
A)And the beautiful thing
is, oftentimes when you implement the action, the emotion will follow.
B)Guys, maybe you’ve lost the
feeling for your wife. 1) Treat her like a treasure, and your emotions will follow because Jesus
taught that where our treasure is, there will our heart be also
(Luke 12:34).
C) Our
culture has lost the meaning of what real love is. That is why, husbands and
wives are saying, “I don’t have feelings for him or her
anymore, so I’m leaving.”
D) But
feelings aren’t the issue. Love is not an emotion or a feeling. It’s a
decision.
1)
It’s an action. “My commandment,” Jesus said, “is that you make the decision to
love.” Heart follows
Defines how we are to Love? As I have loved you!
A)Now to love like Jesus especially when the
emotions are not there – requires one thing! – Death
13 Greater love has no one than this,
than to lay down one's life for his friends.
B)An entire nation was revived when John Knox prayed, “Lord, give me
C)But what many people don’t
know is what Knox wrote concerning the answer to that prayer.
D)The Lord responded in his
heart, saying, “First die, then I’ll give you
we pray “Make this relationship work, or I’m going
to die,”.
“Die first,”
the Lord says.
E)
Laying down your life for wife / neighbor / co – worker is not only the PROOF of your love, but the PATHWAY to love.
So Friendship
evidenced by obedience / #2 Loving like Jesus
#3 Friendship
with Jesus means we know the truth. 15 No longer do
I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but
I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have
made known to you.
Friends don’t keep you in the dark. – They share things with
you.
A)Acquaintances are people who know us on
the outside, on the surface.
B)Friends are people who know us on
the inside, our joys, hurts, failures, the secret plans of our lives.
C) Because these were his friends He wanted them to
know the truth
We too have been
given a unique privilege of Knowing the truth
A)Spiritual discerned – We have the Spirit
9 But as it is written: "Eye has
not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for
those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through
His Spirit.
B)The Spirit searches the deep things of God –
reveals them to us
#4 Friendship with Jesus has a special purpose.
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you
should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you
ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Sometimes people will say: I found the Lord – Well he has never been
lost – We were lost – He found us
A)All
drafted – no one enlisted
B)
Gayle Irwin One of the main things I don’t
understand about God – is why He chose me !
C) Paul
spent his life trying to understand that one
Why for
what reason – apprehended me
1)
Love
that phrase – being apprehended by God
D) Pursuing
heart of God! – Not a policeman to bust us but a father to bless us.
He chose us for a purpose – He uses the term appointed =
sent for a special reason – to bear fruit.
A)When
it comes to Humanity - Jesus has two
passions:
B)He has a passion for the lost - See men saved –
He has a passion for the Church. – His bride – Built up / taken care of .
1) He
wants his friends to share in that passion.
C)Makes sense – Your best friends are going to be those
who are into what you are into. { As believers –common fellowship is Christ
D)But
it really helps – friends are into what you are into. – Me Ministry – Most of
my close friends are involved in one way or another in ministry – we share that
passion
Sharing
that passion with Jesus!
So
there is a purpose to our Friendship with Christ – It is meant to bear fruit.
#5 Jesus was real with His friends Rd V.17- 16:4
A)Jesus
was letting his disciples know – Hard times were ahead { Persecution was
coming. { Not stumble
1) Insight into prophecy – meant to strengthen us
B) But
He prefaces this whole section by reminding them again – Love each other 17 These things I command you, that you love one
another.
C)Connection
HERE!
D) The world is out to get the Christian – The world is
against us – so all we have is each other.
E)Now
here in
1) Here in the
All these petty little things we divide over{ different doctrinal views{
A)Schisms
- She hurt my feelings – not talking to
her.
1) He
gets on my nerves – avoiding him
All that gets thrown out the window in the face of Persecution ‘
A)No
enemies in a fox whole.
B)But
you go somewhere like the
1)
Suddenly it really doesn’t matter if you are Pre/ Post trib
/ Calvinist of Armenian
C)
Countries have Pentecostals burying Baptist –
1) Not really concerned about Stocks / Chargers / Padres
– { Trying to stay alive
D) They just love
each other.
So Jesus is warning his followers that Difficult time are
ahead.
A)I
appreciate this about Jesus – Being a Christian is not a bed of roses! –
B)Sometimes
I cringe at the way Christianity is presented here in
C) We often equate blessing with smooth sailing
1) Simply not true – and it is a slap in the face to
Christians in other countries – who are being persecuted.
Text Reveals
some reasons for Persecution. 4 Reasons
#1 Christians are not of this world V.18-19
"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated
you. 19 If you were of the world, the
world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you
out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
A)The world dislikes those who are different!
(example)
It is said that
if a hen w/a different marking is put into a hen run where all the hens
are the same, the other hens will peck her to death.
B)
1)And
when light shines, people in the dark get real uneasy.
2)
Like bugs under a rock, they start scrambling and fleeing
B)
Whenever a Christian makes a stand for righteousness – morals – speaks up against immorality injustice – Square
1)
Hated intolerant –
#2 They hated Jesus 20 Remember the word that
I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted
Me, they will also persecute you.{ We should expect it }
A)I
read an interview with the people who made the movie the Nativity
B)
Don’t you think you are being bias and imposing – shoving your views on to us!
C) Try
to have that same argument – Homosexuality – Scream
1)
Jesus they get mad !
D) Talk
religion – great Buddha
The
world hates the Jesus of the Bible! – You stand for that Jesus – You proclaim
that Jesus – Hate you
A)I do think
this is going to grow here in the
1)
Harder –to be a Christian – but more defined
B) Last days –
C) Word
of Hope though
20b If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
However
there will be some who believe – not all are going to be hostile
#3 They really don’t know God.
A)In
V.21-25 Jesus says - There are those who
claim to Know God – reject me ! Not true
B)
Can’t know God and hate me -
C) The
world is without excuse – no one will be able to say – I didn’t know –
Think about what these men saw: Miracles galore – Blind
see lame walk – Dead raised – Laz / Jairus daughter / Widow Nains son
A)OT
prophecies – they were without excuse – Proof that Jesus was sent by God – Who
He said He was
B) But
so are we – Creation testifies to the existence of God
1)
Prophecies of the Bible – EMPTY TOMB – Proof of Resurrection
C Jesus Christ made a
powerful, nonnegotiable proclamation when He said to all mankind,
“If you don’t love Me, if you don’t acknowledge Me, if you hate
Me, you hate My Father also. Period. End of quote.”
Quoting
from Psalm 35 where the Psalmist is writing about being wrongfully accused { No
cause!
No
reason
#6 Jesus
doesn’t leave his Friends Helpless. V.26,27
"But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the
Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of
Me. 27 And you also will bear witness,
because you have been with Me from the beginning.
HS Help
you thru it