John 15:9 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
This morning, I struggle for words to express my thoughts on this passage, for it heralds the glory and majesty and surety and sweetness of God’s love for His Children. To help us understand the magnanimity of His love for us, our Lord explains that His love for us is in the same manner as the Father’s love for Him. Some may think that our Lord is only referring to His Apostles who were with Him; but, the Lord (in the same setting) refuted that notion when He declared, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:20-21). Twice our Heavenly Father was heard declaring His love for His Son. On the day our Lord was Baptized and when He was transfigured, the Father was heard proclaiming, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5). This is one of those blessed truths that I know and believe, but have insufficient words to express. It is my daily amazement that my Lord would want and love someone like me. When Paul wrote, “O wretched man that I am!” (Romans 7:24), he was describing me! He was amazed that the Lord would want and love him. When I look at myself, I am gloriously astonished that the Sovereign and absolutely perfect God would have any interest whatsoever in me. But, even at this very moment He is reaching down to embrace me with His Holy Love, letting me know that He does indeed love me, and I am overwhelmed at the feeling of such a “great love”. Knowing and feeling our Lords “great love” (Ephesians 2:4) for us, compels us to fall down on our knees and worshipfully plead, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?” (Psalms 116:12)! The Lord had just Commanded, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) and “as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34), and He Commands a second time “That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12). So, the great, daily challenge to us is that we “love one another, as” the Lord has loved us! If we embrace and act upon this challenge our families, Churches, communities, country, etc. will be a much more pleasant place to live and in doing so we will show our love to our God.