There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
When we hear the word love, we all have different ideas of what it means. Some immediately think of their favorite rom-com, while others think of the fierce love they have for their people. Knowing that we would need a good definition for God’s love, the love that we are expected to emulate, Jesus explained exactly what love is to His disciples shortly before His death.
As He was teaching His disciples one day, knowing that His death was imminent, He set aside time to talk to them about love. First, He declared His love for them. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love” (John 15:9). After declaring His love, He taught, “This is My commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you” (verse 12). Next, He explained what love is. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (verse 13). Now, I imagine that Jesus said this with tears in His eyes because He knew what was coming. He knew He was about to show them the greatest love they would ever experience. He was going to lay down His life for them, and the rest of the world, to save them from their sins. He finished the conversation about love by saying one more time, “This is my command: Love each other” (verse 17). Now, when something in Scripture is repeated, it is something we are to pay attention to. It was repeated because it was important. Jesus wanted His disciples and future followers, us, to get this command right.
As Jesus taught His disciples about love, He explained what God’s love is and what kind of love He wanted His followers to emulate: sacrificial love. The greatest love possible, to lay your life down for others. This love, at its core, is sacrificial. This is the love that you and I are called to. We are called to sacrifice. We are called to love and serve others, just as Jesus served.
It is time for you and I to take this call to love sacrificially seriously. It is time to start looking to others and sacrificially loving them. It’s time to ask the question, “What can I do to help?” It is time to serve. Let’s get this command from Jesus right.
Let’s determine today to love sacrificially. Who in your life is in need today? Do you know someone who is struggling right now whom you could encourage? Decide to do one thing today to sacrificially love them and provide much-needed help and encouragement.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:9-17 (NLT)
For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.
But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.
But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
©2024 Sagebrush Church
