Postscript: “Live a life of love”

May 31, 2021

The teaching which Jesus gave to his disciples on the eve of his death (John 13-17) is profoundly important. These five chapters provide us with the Lord’s own discipleship manual, his guide on how to live the Christian life effectively and fruitfully. 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 and characteristic is love (1 John 4:9,16).

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 own 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, the location 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).

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.5:5). This is why Jesus emphasised that he would send the Holy Spirit to be with them and in them (14:16-17; 16:7). Through daily reliance on the indwelling Holy Spirit, disciples of Jesus are called to be like him (13:14-15). “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).