Greater Love Has No One Than This

John 15:12-13, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

The Lord has revealed a treasure of insights to us as we've studied the fifteenth chapter of John. One principle that we are reminded of frequently is that what Jesus calls us to do is impossible. It is not merely difficult. It is not simply a struggle. No, our Lord asks us to do the impossible! Remember that in the early part of John 15, Jesus gives us fair warning, "I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

With great clarity, Jesus spells out His instructions to all Christians everywhere concerning their love for each other. He says just what He means, all the while knowing that we will fail to obey His commandment should we refuse to abide.

The good news is that the Lord did not set us up for failure. He has provided a Way* and, furthermore, has openly revealed it to us: Living the Christian life is possible in Christ. Let us remember that abiding in Him is our responsibility, while producing fruit is the Lord's responsibility.

Greater Love

Love is perfected as we abide in Him, and perfect love is powerful. It causes one to risk his own life to save another. "Greater love" is costly because it leads one to sacrifice his own soul for another human being. Of all the noble fruit in the character of a man, there is none greater than love.

1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Nothing is Impossible

We are dependent on the Lord Jesus for every breath we take, any good work we accomplish, and every right attitude we maintain. We can do nothing apart from Him, but "with God nothing will be impossible," Luke 1:37.


*Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

Points to Ponder

1. Read John 13:37-38, and John 18:25-26. Why do you think that Peter wasn't able to follow through with his good intentions?


2. Read 1 Peter 1:22 and 4:8. How do you think Peter changed?

What the Bible Says About Joy

What are the Blessings of Joy?

Nehemiah 8:10, "...for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart does good, like medicine."

Proverbs 15:13, "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance."

Proverbs 15:30, "The light of the eyes rejoices the heart..."

Proverbs 15:23, "A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!"

Joy tends to be contagious, so the blessings of joy are extended not only to the one who is joyful, but also to those who are around a joyful person. Joy is also attractive; consequently, others will be drawn to you and will soon want to know the reason for your joy.

What Produces Joy?

Psalm 19:8, "The statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart."

Luke 10:20, "...rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Jeremiah 15:16, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart."

3 John 4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

Acts 8:7-8, "For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city."

Luke 24:51-53, "Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen."

We rejoice when we see righteousness triumph over evil, when we discover a truth in Scripture that we haven't noticed before, when a person comes to know Jesus as his Savior. We have great joy when we witness a young Christian mature in the Lord, when God answers prayer, or when we have been in the presence of the Almighty.

How do we Experience Joy?

1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

When we remember the Lord's great work, past and present, our hearts fill with thankfulness. Our response is to thank Him and praise Him, because as we go over His great deeds in our lives, we realize once again that it's all about Him, not us. We will purpose to rejoice in Him because of Who He is. Focusing our attention on the Lord will cause an outpouring of praise and thanksgiving.

The Lord gives us joy so "that [our] joy may be full."

Psalm 27:6, "And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord."