Wednesday May 14, 2025

John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me,

so I have loved you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments

you will remain in my love.

I don’t think I ever noticed this but my eye caught it this morning. There may be nothing to it and scripture scholars might say I am reading into the text. However our Lord says “.. If you keep MY commandments…” why not say “..THE Commandments…” Are we talking about other commandments than the ten(10). But why would he call them .. his? Is this part of the high Christology of John showing us that Jesus was there from the very beginning and so God’s commandments are his commandments?

Allow me to think he had other rules for his group which fed into the Decalogue. What would those commandments be? To mention but a few this morning, I would say:

1. Do not be Afraid

2. Turn the other cheek. Understand this one in particular. It does not call you to be a doormat.

3. Do this in memory of me. Taking the bread and wine #eucharist.

4. Love God, love neighbor. Remember the story of the Good Samaritan.

5. Heal the Blind.

We can peruse the scriptures and find his instructions. If you find another please drop it in the comments below. Remember these are not in order of seriousness. They are just instructions that came from his lips.