As the Father has loved me, so have I 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. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Comment: English uses the one word ‘love’ but has many adjectives, nuances, and words to limit the concept of what is being talked about. For example – filial, sexual, erotic, unprincipled, steadfast, unconditional etc. Love here is highlighted as the mark of obedience for a follower of Christ. We get into all sorts of trouble if we take the word ‘love’ here to be the cover-all variety. It certainly has the meaning of ‘steadfast’ and it has the quality of likeness to God’s love for us. What would you include or discard? The love of Christ for us leads to choice for us, and requires fruit production – good fruit not bad!
Prayer: Help me to understand what You mean when You talk about love here, and to produce good fruit, O Lord.
As I read it! 