The Message of Love--Part Twenty Six<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"BEN: Let's reflect a bit on John 15--- vine and branches and remaining\/abiding. I heard a good sermon about how branches are not called to be sucking the\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Message of Love--Part Twenty Six\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"BEN: Let's reflect a bit on John 15--- vine and branches and remaining\/abiding. 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{"id":35508,"date":"2020-03-27T01:21:05","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T05:21:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/bibleandculture\/?p=35508"},"modified":"2020-03-07T06:22:34","modified_gmt":"2020-03-07T11:22:34","slug":"the-message-of-love-part-twenty-eight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/bibleandculture\/2020\/03\/27\/the-message-of-love-part-twenty-eight\/","title":{"rendered":"The Message of Love–Part Twenty Six"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

$\"\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

PATRICK: A memorable title for a sermon for sure. And it\u2019s a good image which captures how the vine is the life force, it\u2019s only by remaining connected to it that the disciples will bear fruit (John 15:2, 4\u20135, 8). But I think there is more to it than passive \u2018hanging in there\u2019. To remain (abide) includes active obedience. John is crystal clear \u2013 \u201cIf you keep my commands, you will remain in my love\u201d (15:10a). And those commands involve loving each other (15:12, 17). The foot-washing story in John 13 leads up to a new command \u201clove one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another\u201d (13:34).<\/p>\n

That love can be commanded feels odd to us Westerners \u2013 doesn\u2019t love have to be freely chosen between equals if it is to be authentic? But John has no problem at all linking love with faithful submission to authoritative commands. There is mystery and wonder here. John\u2019s exalted Christology means that the only appropriate response for disciples to Jesus, the Logos and Son of God, is obedience to his commands. This isn\u2019t obedience out of fear, but out of love for the Messiah who gives his life for his friends.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"