Life and love

John wrote his gospel so that by believing in Jesus “you might have life in his name” (20:30-31). This theme dominates the first 12 chapters. But then in chapters 13-17, the keyword is no longer life but love. That’s because to receive eternal life is to receive the life of God himself, and God’s primary quality is love (1 John 4:9,16).

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So in John 13-17 Jesus makes clear that the Christian life must be characterised by love. The section begins by pointing us to his great love for us (13:1), and then his first instruction is the new command to love one another (13:34-35). His relationship with the Father is one of perfect love and obedience, and that’s the model for the relationship he wants us to have with him (14:21,23) so that his love is our spiritual home, where we live (15:9-10). The key to doing that is, “Love each other” (15:12,17), resulting in an ever-deepening experience of his love in our lives (17:26).

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Can that really be possible? Yes, because “God has poured his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Rom.5:8) “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Eph.5:1-2).