John 15:9-17 NRSV

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Friend,

We rest in the great love that you have for us, love you received from our heavenly Father and have passed on to us. We desire to love you in return by living in obedience to your word, following your example of living obedience to the Father.

Oh, how easy you are to love, but you tell us to prove our love for you by loving other people. This is hard. But you did it, and you command us to do as you did, live as you lived, and love as you loved.

You welcomed a cursing thief into paradise.

You asked the Father to forgive the barbaric soldiers who crucified you.

And you consoled and restored the unfaithful disciple who promised to be true but instead abandoned you when you were at your lowest.

You tell us that we are your friends if we obey your commands; that we prove our love for you as we obey your commands; that we bear fruit for your kingdom as we obey your commands.

Oh, Jesus, help us to obey!

Amen.

Rusty Rabon

Jesus, What a Friend For Sinners

https://youtu.be/NCSyi1ld3bo?si=cOwh6TYfnFT0AEFR