The joy of obedience
So it’s by obedience to Jesus that we remain in his love. That may well be hard and costly – it certainly was for Jesus and it will be no different for those who take up the cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:21-23). Nevertheless, we should not think that discipleship will be grim and dour. Rather, Jesus says that the reason he has told them this is so that their joy may be complete (11)
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This is the first time in John’s gospel that Jesus has spoken of joy, though the thought that the disciples will find blessing by laying down their lives for others is not new (12:25-26; 13:14-17). His resurrection will become the basis of a deep and complete joy for them (16:20-24) – in fact, Jesus goes on to pray that we will have the full measure of his joy within us (17:13). Whatever the cost of discipleship, the resurrection means that we can “greatly rejoice... filled with an expressible and glorious joy” (1 Pet.1:3-9).
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Obedience to his commands (10) can be summed up in one command – the new commandment to love each other just as he has loved us (12; 13:34). The more complete our love then the more complete our joy. Both are the fruit of the Holy Spirit, who works through our obedience (Gal.5:22).