Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. How does Jesus describe the love He has for us as His disciples? See John 15:9a (printed below) Note John 5:20 and 3:35 also printed below
Just as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you (John 15:9a)
…the Father loves the Son and therefore shows him everything that he is doing. (John 5:20a)
The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. (John 3:35)
In verse 9a our Lord declares that His love for each of His disciples is patterned after the Father’s love for Him: “Just as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you.” Scripture indicates that this is a self-revealing, self-sharing love. As John 5:20 testifies, because of His love for the Son, the Father shared with Him all that He is doing. John 3:35 reveals that because of His love for His Son, the Father put all things in submission to Him.
2. What does Jesus command us to do as His disciples, and how does He instruct us to do this? See John 15:9b-10 (printed below)
…remain in my love. (10) If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. (John 15:9b-10)
Our Lord declares that we as His disciples are commanded to “remain” (or, continue) in His love (cp. Jude 20-21). Verse 10 more explicitly declares that, as disciples, we are to remain in Christ’s love by keeping Christ’s commandments. Note: obedience does not bring us into the covenant of grace and into citizenship in the kingdom of God (note John 15:16). Obedience, however, is the obligation of the covenant and of citizenship in the kingdom of God (Ephesians 2:8-10; Psalm 103:17-18). Furthermore, the Lord Jesus graciously supplies us with all we need to fulfill this obligation; namely, the provision of His Holy Spirit and His grace (2 Peter 1:3).
3. What is one reason why our Lord Jesus commands us to render obedience to His commandments? See John 15:11a (printed below)
I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you (John 15:11a)
Our Lord Jesus commands us to render obedience to Him because such obedience is a source of joy to Him. Note: when our Lord speaks of His joy being in us He is referring to the fact that our obedience brings joy to Him—faithful, obedient disciples are a source of joy to Christ.
4. What is another reason our Lord Jesus commands us to render obedience to His commandments? See John 15:11b (printed below)
I have told you these things so that…your joy may be complete. (John 15:11b)
Our Lord Jesus furthermore commands us to render obedience to Him because such obedience is also a source of joy to us. True joy and happiness will always elude us until we realize that they are the by-product of obedience to Christ. Scripture teaches that the pathway of obedience leads to joy (note Romans 14:17 and Hebrews 12:2). As Romans 14:17 indicates, peace and joy succeed righteousness and are the result of it: “the kingdom of God is…a matter…of righteousness, peace and joy by the Holy Spirit.” Conversely, the pathway of disobedience eventually leads to misery (note Proverbs 13:15b).
5. What specific commandment does our Lord present to His disciples in John 15:12-13 (printed below?)
My commandment is that you love one another, just as I have loved you. (13) No one has any greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12-13)
In verses 12-13 the Lord Jesus focuses our attention upon one specific commandment, one specific way we are to render obedience to Him: the commandment to practice brotherly love. What does this brotherly love look like? What form does it take? It is to be patterned after our Lord’s own love for us: our Lord’s love for us is a sacrificial love (John 15:13). Love for our brothers and sisters in Christ may mean the sacrifice of our time, our comfort, our personal interests, plans and desires, our resources (note Philippians 2:3-4 and 1 John 3:16-18). Love for our brothers and sisters in Christ may mean the sacrifice of our pride, our wounded spirit, our sense of moral indignation against offenses perpetrated against us as we extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us (note Colossians 3:12-13).
