The Commandment
15:12-17
Having told the disciples that they would keep his commandments if they loved him, Jesus now tells them what his commandment is. They are to love each other as he has loved them. (12)
Jesus said this previously, as recorded in 13:34: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another”. The fact that Jesus said this twice, and that he called it his commandment, indicates the supreme importance of the command.
The greatest expression of this love ss that a person lays down his life for his friends. (13) This is, of course, what Jesus did. He laid down his life for his friends.
Jesus is speaking to the 11 apostles in this context. He says they are his friends if they do what he commands, if they obey him. This is another way of saying “if you love me you will keep my commandments”.
Jesus then said these disciples were friends rather than servants. The difference between the two is revelation. Both servants and friends obey their master. But servants to not know the mind of the master. He does not explain to them why he wants them to do something. He tells them to do it and they obey. It is like your mother telling you to do something and when you ask why, she does not explain, but says “because I said so, that’s why!”.
But, a master will tell a friend what is on his mind. Here, Jesus says he calls them friends because all he heard from the Father, he made known to them”. (15) Jesus loved and obeyed the Father and revealed to the disciples the things the Father revealed to him.
And this explains the words “no longer”. In the old covenant, God’s people were given commandments to obey, but little in the way of information regarding God’s plan. In contrast, Jesus tells his new covenant disciples everything God revealed to him.
The word “friends” is used here for the Greek word “philos”, which is a form of “philia”. “Philia” and “agape” are the two Greek words for love in the New Testament. It has been common to say that agape love is a higher form of love than philia. However, that is not consistently true in the New Testament and, specifically, in the Gospel of John.
At a minimum, philia means love for family members. For example, Hebrews 13:1 says “let brotherly love continue”. The Greek word for “brotherly love” is “Philadelphia”, a form of “philia”.
That is why the city of Philadelphia Pennsylvania in the United States is called the city of “brotherly love”. So, it might be more appropriate to call the disciples “loved ones” than friends in our present use of those words.
Jesus laid down his life for those whom he loved. Likewise, we should lay down our lives for our fellow believers. They are the ones we love if we are obeying Jesus’ command.
So, Christians should be known for their love for Jesus, shown by their obedience to his commandments, and their love for each other, shown by laying down their lives for each other.
How do we lay down our lives for each other. Certainly, the ultimate expression of this is to die for someone else, as Jesus did. But, it can include anytime we give something of ourselves for each other. We give our time, our work, our energy, our prayers, for each other in love.
The disciples have these revelations and understanding because Jesus chose them and set them apart to bear fruit. (16) In this context, “fruit” likely does primarily mean converts, people who will believe in Jesus. And he chose them and appointed them to bear fruit that would abide or last, meaning those who would believe in Jesus and follow him their whole lives, fruit that abides or lasts.
Also, Jesus chose them so that whatever they asked the Father in Jesus’ name, the Father would give to them. (16) Fruitfulness still comes from the Father in response to our asking for it.
The Opposition
15:18-25
In contrast to their love for each other, the disciples will learn that the world hates them because it hated Jesus. (15) Jesus chose and called them out of the world to be in his kingdom. They are no longer “of this world” they are “of Christ’s kingdom”. And, therefore, those of the world will often hate them for being different. They are not greater than their master in this sense; if they persecuted Jesus they will persecute his followers, those who identify with him.
Jesus said all of the things people would do to them on account of Jesus’ name was because they did know the Father who sent him. (21) This is particularly about the Jews, who claimed to know the Father, but persecuted Jesus and his disciples. But it is true of all people who deny Jesus as the Son of God. (Romans 1:18-23)
Since these people (the Jews) heard Jesus speak and saw him do miraculous works, they are guilty of sin by rejecting Jesus and persecuting him and his followers. (22) They show that they hate the Father by hating the Son. (24) This fulfills Old Testament scripture, such as Psalm 35:19.
The Holy Spirit will help them at these times. He will come to them and he will bear witness to Jesus. (26) The disciples will also bear witness to Jesus because they have been with him from the beginning. They are the ones who know Jesus best because they witnessed his whole ministry. (27)
There are things given only to the apostles (the Twelve). But there are things here that apply to us as disciples, or followers, of Jesus: (1) we are to love one another:
(2) we have the Holy Spirit to help us; and
(3) we have a mission to bring the gospel to the world.
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