We have a short gospel passage this Sunday which carries on where last Sunday's left off ... and, yes, there is even a little bit of abiding to carry on Laura's message from last Friday. But rather than repeat much of what she said, let's focus on the word of this week instead. In nine verses we are brought face to face with commandments of Jesus some five times:

• if you keep my commandments
• as I have kept my Father's commandments
• this is my commandment
• do what I command you
• I am giving you these commands

When faced with the prospect of following someone else's commands we often revert to the old familiar motifs of service personnel following the orders of a superior officer, at one end of the scale; or at the other end saying something 'Well would you jump off a cliff is someone told you to.'

Following a command is often reduced to obeying orders or acting foolishly. 

Funnily enough, I don't think Jesus wants us to act without taking responsibility for our actions or to act without thinking. Jesus may speak about his commands five times in these nine verses; but he uses the word 'love' nine times:

• the Father has loved me
• I have loved you
• abide in my love
• you will abide in my love
• [I] abide in his love
• love one another
• I have loved you
• no one has greater love than this
• you may love one another

It is equally clear that, whilst what love looks like is not defined, the impact of love should be joy: my joy may be in you and your joy be complete:

• the joy of being called friends, by the one we call master
• the joy of being chosen
• the joy of being appointed
• the joy of bearing fruit, fruit that will last
• the joy of knowing we are given a simple command, to love one another
• the joy of seeing the joy of others knowing they are loved.

Dan Tyndall

2 May 2024