Sunday November 6, John 15.12-17

John 15.12-17  12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I 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. 16You 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. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.


Thoughts:  John 15.16 is a verse that I give to almost every confirmation class that I've ever had.  It is such a wonderful verse.  First of all the Gospel is proclaimed with such clarity, "You did not choose me but I chose you."   Such a reminder in a culture that makes us want to believe that we make a decision for Jesus and this decision saves us.  No!  Jesus has made a decision for US, and it is his work on our behalf that grants the gift of salvation.  Having been given this gift, we are now appointed to be ambassadors if you will.  Folks who are out in the world bearing fruit!  I think we've heard this before.  But this is the Gospel that we must never get tired of hearing!
 
Questions:  What do you expect from a friend?  Can you imagine yourself as a friend of God?