MARANATHA (Series)John 15:12-17

THINGS JESUS HAS ALREADY SAID

1. I’m coming back (Maranatha!)2. Look for these signs that precede my coming!3. Humble yourselves to serve one another!4. You have a Helper – The Holy Spirit!5. Stay closely connected to Me and you will bear fruit!

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER”

THE FINAL MESSAGE OF JESUS BEFORE HE IS CRUCIFIED

“9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.”  John 15:9-14

“15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:15-17

WHAT IS LOVE?“Love is patient, love is kind, It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”                               I Corinthians 13:4-7

FOUR CONCEPTS OF LOVE

STORGE: - AFFECTION

EROS: - ROMANCE

PHILEO: - FRIENDSHIP

AGAPE: - SACRIFICE

GLIMPES OF AGAPE LOVE

THE PREMISE OF AGAPE LOVE

“AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME,

SO I HAVE LOVED YOU” VS. 9

“MY COMMAND IS THIS: LOVE

ONE ANOTHER” VS. 12

THE COMMAND OF AGAPE LOVE

“A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE TO YOU: LOVE ONE ANOTHER” John 13:35

“MY COMMAND IS THIS: LOVE ONE ANOTHER” John 15:12,17

THE IMPORTANCE OF AGAPE LOVE“BY THIS ALL MEN WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU LOVE 

ONE ANOTHER.”  Jn. 13:35

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT

AGAPE LOVE?

“This is my commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends…. By this will all men know that you are my disciples.”                            John 15:12 and 13:35

1. It is a command2. It is for every follower of Jesus3. It is demonstrated in Christ4. It is the most anyone can do5. It is sacrificial6. It shows others that we follow

Jesus

WHAT DOES THIS AGAPE LOVE MEAN FOR MY LIFE TODAY?

“You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you 

servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  

Instead, I have called you friends for everything I have learned from my 

Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose 

you and appointed you that you go and bear fruit – fruit that will 

remain.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”  

John 15:14-16

IT MEANS FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD THAT PROVIDES LOVE,

SECURITY AND CONFIDENCE!

WHAT DOES THIS AGAPE LOVE MEAN FORMY LIFE TODAY?

“…I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit – fruit that will remain….” John 15:16

IT MEANS THAT FOLLOWING JESUS IS AN ETERNAL INVESTMENTIT MEANS THAT WHAT WE DO FOR JESUS REALLY COUNTS AND

IT LASTS FOREVER!

WHAT DOES THIS AGAPE LOVE MEAN FORMY LIFE TODAY?

IT MEANS THAT GOD GIVES TO EACH ONE OF US THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN THE WORLD – A LOVE THAT WILL

HEAL THE DEEPEST HURTFORGIVE THE BIGGEST SIN

OVERCOME THE WIDEST DIVIDEFACE THE STRONGEST FOE

LIVE A GODLY LIFE

“…GO AND BEAR FRUIT – FRUIT THAT WILL REMAIN….”   John 15:16

QUESTION

1. CAN I SAY AS A CHRISTIAN THAT I AM A PERSON OF AGAPE LOVE?

(patient, kind, gentle, humble, courteous – not rude, not easily angered, you do not keep a record of wrongs, you dislike evil and love truth, you are protector, a person who trusts…)

QUESTION

WOULD OTHERS AGREE WITH ME THAT I AM A PERSON OF AGAPE LOVE?

2. HOW IS THIS AGAPE LOVE EXPRESSED AND EXHIBITED IN MY LIFE? WHAT ACTIONS CAN I POINT TO THIS PAST WEEK?

QUESTION

3. AS A RESULT OF MY EXPRESSIONS AND LIFE OF AGAPE LOVE – DOES THE WORLD KNOW THAT I AM A FOLLOWER OF JESUS?