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There is no higher privilege than this which the Lord Jesus is revealing in these chapters of John's Gospel. There can be no greater responsibility either.

Yet, so very often, these vital spiritual truths which He is teaching are almost completely ignored.

It was in infinite and eternal love that the Lord was speaking to His disciples. Pure love. Deeply concerned love. Love which was motivated by His desire for their highest and their best.

He knew that within a few short hours He would be taken from them. Arrested while in Gethsemane. The shadow of the cross was looming so ominously. He fully accepted His Father's will with all that it involved of sacrifice, suffering and death.

He knew how vitally important it was to use these final hours to seek to accomplish the greatest benefit for the disciples. We cannot over-emphasize that fact! Thus we hear Him revealing truth to these men which was of the greatest significance. For them. For their lives. For their service. And: for us today!

Every Christian who is actually, personally committed to live for the Lord Jesus will recognize the importance of this Word. Therefore each one will give close and prayerful attention to each specific aspect.

"He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him."

The Lord Jesus had just stated this simple, yet essential, truth. "If ye love Me, keep My commandments" (verse 15).

Now, He proceeds to repeat and expand that truth: "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me!"

It may be suggested that all we have here is repetition. Even if that is the case, no Christian should have any problem with it.

Paul wrote, "To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe!" (Philippians 3: 1).

Such repetition is not a problem for the true teacher. Especially when the teacher is genuinely concerned for the spiritual well-being and growth of those whom He seeks to teach. Whether it is the Lord Jesus or Paul.

The aim is the same. To strengthen them and make them more secure and fruitful in their walk of faith.

The Lord Jesus is repeating and re-emphasizing this most vital truth. He does so for our greatest personal and spiritual benefit.

Notice the very clear expression in His Word. "He who has My commandments" is placed in distinction from he who "keepeth them"!

His focus is so obviously on those who are actually keeping His Word. So clearly revealing that there are others who do have His Word but who do not keep it.

The actual reality is unmistakably clear. There are vast numbers of "Christians" today who have His Word. But there is no legitimate evidence, either in their lives or their service, that they are actually keeping His Word.

As far as the Lord Jesus is concerned, "keeping His Word" is identical to: "Doing His Word!" Putting His Word into actual and personal practice in all areas of daily living and service.

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man."

"And every one that heareth these saying of Mine and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man." (Matthew 7: 24, 26).

To "have" and not to "keep" is the same as to "hear" and not "do"! A child can understand that.

John states, "Hereby we do know that we know Him, If we keep His commandments." "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked" (1 John 2: 3, 6).

"Keep!" "Do!" "Walk!" As - He did! In exactly the same way that the Lord Jesus Himself did! What a challenging example! What an inspiring standard!

The Christian who is real does not hesitate. He fully accepts that example with excited enthusiasm. He freely embraces that standard as fully worthy of his total unreserved devotion.

It is this relationship on which the Lord Jesus is focusing. He is emphasizing this most critical fact in His Words: "He it is that loveth Me!"

Every Christian who is really serious about honoring the Lord Jesus will give the highest importance to these words. Remembering this inescapable fact: It is the Lord Jesus Himself who is constantly evaluating! It is according to His perfect knowledge of us that He decides who it is who really does love Him.

No one else can usurp either that knowledge or that authority. Many attempt to do so. They will make their bold and confident claims. They want to convince others that their claims are authentic, and, especially, that their love for the Lord is genuine.

Only the Lord Jesus has that knowledge. Only the Lord Jesus has the ability to discern and evaluate. Only He has the right to set the standard by which all of our claims will be judged.

As a Christian, each one of us is challenged to constantly remember: He does look on the heart! He does examine and evaluate our real motives. He knows!

Those who really do love Him are so very thankful that this is the actual reality. They are in no way disturbed that He knows. Rather, they rejoice in this glorious and exciting fact. Even as their love for Him grows ever deeper and stronger as the result of this.

There are far too many Christians who would ignore these words as being of little significance. There is far too much loose thinking about what it actually does mean for God to love us.

Yes, we know that God loves us. He loves everyone. So, what is so very special about this statement? They turn away without thinking about the answer.

People hurrying on, glibly satisfied with their superficial understanding. Content to remain in the shallows of the Christian life. Convinced that they know all that they need to know. Yet having nothing but this utterly inadequate understanding of the most vital spiritual truth!

It is so very common, and so very dangerous, to conclude, "I know all that I need to know about all this statement made by the Lord Jesus!"

The inevitable result of such a response is all too evident among most Christians today. Whenever they talk about the love of God they speak in exactly the same way as the vast majority of people still in the world would speak.

They so glibly express those same very general, very shallow, ideas which are all too common to people everywhere.

This is all that you hear. Even from so many who profess to teach the great truths of the Bible.

Consequently the incredible and amazing truth of the vast potential of the love of God remains concealed. Hidden by willful ignorance. The devil is the one who rejoices the most as the direct result of this.

The Lord Jesus knew that His disciples had begun to experience the wonder of the love of God. It is just that way with us when we are born again. We have begun, and only begun, to experience the love of God!

We must carefully and honestly note this fact. In both cases it involved the barest of beginnings. The love of God is infinitely greater and incredibly more glorious than all we could possibly know in that initial moment. Even though we have experienced His love in forgiveness, cleansing, reconciliation, and regeneration.

Over against that experience, think about these words from Paul: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge!" (Ephesians 3: 17 - 19).

When we were saved the roots of our new life began to reach down into the depths of His love. Like a seed, germinating in the soil. Its roots beginning their initial penetration of the mighty resources of the earth. That is: only a beginning!

Does the small root of that seed really "know" the exceeding depth of the earth? Or the breadth? Or the length? No! Those vast resources are far outside the reach of its very limited experience.

How much more is this true of our very limited experience of the infinite love of God?

Yet, wonder of wonders! - it is His will that we do "Know!" That we do know the love of Christ which always far exceeds the reach of our knowledge!

This is the thrilling challenge of these words of the Lord Jesus. That we know more, and yet more, and even more of the infinite unmeasured extent and glory of His love!

There it is! Love Him! - in the way in which He defines that love! The love of genuinely devoted obedience. The love for Him which rejoices to daily live by His Word for His glory! Love - as He authenticates love!

"Him will My Father honor!" Who? The Lord Jesus reveals the answer.

"If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor!" (John 12: 26).

It is that genuine love for Jesus which gives the Father the opportunity which He is seeking. He seeks the love that obeys. The service willingly offered in sacrificial devotion.

Whenever the Father is able to identify that genuine love, He so willingly opens more, and yet more, of the infinite reaches of His vast and amazing love: To that person!

What an incredible privilege! The Lord Jesus is saying to us today: “This privilege is for you to know and experience today. Love Me, with that love which I define as being genuine! Then you too will be so greatly amazed at what the Father does in response!”

This is not repetition just for the sake of repetition. Whenever the Lord Jesus appears to restate a truth, He has a specific purpose in view.

When our love for the Lord Jesus is expressed in genuine obedience, we give Him the opportunity which He is always seeking. Which is, to take our personal relationship with Him into greater depth and reality.

He seeks the opportunity to enable us to experience more of the glory of His love. So as to greatly enrich our relationship with Him. To make that fellowship more alive, more mature and more vitally effective.

Every genuine personal relationship develops progressively. True fellowship must be protected from becoming static. There is only a very short step from being static to becoming stale and stagnant.

It is for this reason that He encourages us: "Continue to learn of Me!" Do not ever be satisfied with the level of growth and development which you have reached. Always remember that there is so much more which should continually inspire our enthusiasm.

It is due to this dynamic expression of true Christian potential that the Lord Jesus goes on to:

How we need to let this amazing statement sink in! Just give Him the opportunity and this is the exciting result!

He will enable us to see Him more clearly! We will have a much more distinct vision of both His grace and His glory!

"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being made conformable unto His death" (Philippians 3: 10).

"That I may know Him!" The Christian who really does love the Lord Jesus also knows that deep inner desire. I do want to know Him better! I do want to see Him with greater clarity and understanding.

What does it take to really get to know Him? Paul reveals His understanding of what is required as he says, "So that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20: 24).

That I may faithfully finish the ministry which He has given to me. Carry out the service which He in His Word has entrusted to my stewardship.

Paul is saying, I understand what Jesus meant. To know Him and to see Him, I must give Him devoted loyalty and obedience in everything. So, my response is made evident in my unswerving commitment to keep His Word.

That is always the key. The Lord Jesus so willingly grants this most glorious privilege to every Christian who will demonstrate that same motivation and loyalty to His Word.

Whenever genuine love for Jesus is demonstrated by keeping His Word. Doing so with the desire to honor and glorify Him. This is always the result. We experience more and more of His love in our lives. Even as we experience Him revealing to us more and more of Himself and His glory.

It should be obvious to all why it is so very vital that we continuously take His Word seriously. Hear, yes. Then, keep! Do! Obey!

"Judas saith unto Him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world?"

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My Words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

One of the twelve disciples, Judas, not Iscariot, expressed the feeling of perplexity which they were all experiencing.

Lord, You say that You will reveal Yourself to us. But, the world will not see You? How can that be? If we can see you, then surely everyone else will also be able to see you.

This is the questioning of spiritual immaturity. Of disciples who had begun to follow the Lord. Yet, in so many ways they were still conforming to the world. To its ideas and understanding of things.

A little later the Lord Jesus was to go on to assure them, "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth." "He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16: 13, 14).

The Apostle Paul reminds us, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2: 14).

The confusion of perplexity which was being experienced by the disciples is quite common. This is the result of the fact that so many think according to their own self-confidence. They are sure that they know!

The self-sufficient "Christian" will protest, Such a thing is not possible. We have not experienced it!

The truth of the Word of the Lord is always infinitely greater than the capacity of our minds to grasp it. Always!

This is the reason for so many Christians looking at the Word of the Lord, and wondering, "What does that really mean? Can it apply to my life? If so, how does it fit in with life as I know it?"

It is a wise Christian who humbly accepts the Word of the Lord in faith. The Lord said it. He obviously meant it. In due course He will enable me to understand all that it means for me. In that acceptance of faith we allow ourselves to become teachable.

There are too many who are rigid, inflexible. They assert, I know all that I need to know. That person is unteachable and has ceased to be a true disciple.

The Holy Spirit seeks to guide us into all truth. Step by step. In a progressive and continuing process. Which He will continue over an extended period of time.

Once again we have this most critical emphasis. It would be the utmost folly to dismiss this as anything less than being of vital importance. The Lord Jesus is so clearly emphasizing that everything else is completely dependent on this.

That is: actually, genuinely love Him! Love Him in the way in which He defines and reveals that love.

So many today think that it is enough just to "talk" about love. That if you claim to love the Lord that is all that is necessary. The Lord says otherwise!

He Himself speaks of the evidence which authenticates His love for His Father. "That the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do!" (John 14: 31).

This is the way He reveals the genuineness of His love. It was always far more than a mere claim. It was His total life given in the obedience of total devotion.

Absolutely nothing can replace that essential attitude and commitment.

It is still exactly the same! It never varies. "If a man love Me, he will keep My Words!"

That is exactly what we see in the life and actions of the Lord Jesus Himself. "Even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love" (John 15: 10).

He faithfully applied Himself in this responsibility because He knew that in every act of His obedience He was expressing and demonstrating His love for His Father!

He asks nothing of us which He did not fully and continually apply in his own life!

"For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me!"(John 6: 38).

"The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5: 19).

"For He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him!" (John 8: 29).

The Son loved the Father! He demonstrated that reality in devoted obedience to the Word and the will of the Father.

His relationship with His Father is the example of the relationship which He desires that we will have with Him. What a glorious, thrilling privilege!

"And My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

"My Father will love him!" "He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father!"

This amazing and incredible statement is restated and reinforced. How we need to let the impact of this glorious reality grip our hearts and minds.

Here, we are on holy ground! We need to seek to move forward in humble faith. This is not a moment to demand precise definitions. To insist of detailed explanations. For all such are quite beyond the ability of our finite minds to grasp.

We have been given the most amazing example of this truth. Approach it with awe and wonder!

"Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again!" (John 10: 17).

Why does God the Father Love the Lord Jesus? Well, many would suggest the obvious answer, "God is love!"

Why does the Father love the Son? Many would respond: Perfect love is the most central essential of what makes the Trinity the Trinity!

But, these are not the aspects which the Lord Jesus is emphasizing in John 10: 17. He knows that God is love! That perfect love is what makes His relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit all that it is.

Yet, here, In John 10: 17 He is expressing a quite distinct truth. A vital fact, to which we must give the most careful attention.

The Father loves the Son! Why? There is a twofold emphasis in this verse.

First: "Therefore!" For this very specific reason! "Doth My Father love me!"

Second: "Because!" Again He specifically focuses on this special reason!

Both of these point to this essential combination: "I lay down my Life." And, "This commandment have I receive of My father!"(John 10: 18)

Because He freely, voluntarily accepted the Father's commandment, He applied the Father's Word, He lay down His life!

The Lord Jesus clearly states, It is for that reason, specifically, "The Father loves me!"

It is that crucial example which we must see if we are to share the experience to which the Lord invites us.

"If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love" (John 15: 10).

We demonstrate the genuineness of our love for the Lord by keeping His Word. As the direct result, the Father is able to love us with a fuller, deeper, more glorious expression of His love.

Whenever true love obeys His Word, this incredible assurance is His personal guarantee!

This revelation is so very glorious in its inspiration. The love which obeys- gives to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit this opportunity which They so eagerly seek! To come to us in all Their incredibly glorious fullness!

Many who profess to be Christians have not even begun to experience the most elementary aspects of this most amazing promise. Yet, if this fact is true, it is simply because of our failure to take the Lord at His Word!

The reluctance is never on the part of the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit. The hindrance is never on their side of this glorious relationship.

If there is a problem, it is the lack of true reality in our professed love for Jesus! Wherever there is a hindrance, it is our disobedience.

It is interesting that the Lord Jesus used the same word here as in John 14: 2. "In My Father's house are many mansions!" The same word is translated "Mansions" in verse two, and "abode" in verse 23.

Verse two speaks of the glorious home where the redeemed people of the Lord shall take up their residence for eternity. Where we shall continue to live: in His presence!

Verse twenty three speaks to us of this fact. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit will come to make their continuing residence with the one who in love lives by the Word of the Lord Jesus.

The Lord Jesus is revealing to us the most glorious, the most wonderful, potential!

"Remember, "I will pray the Father, that He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of Truth. He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you!" (John 14: 16, 17).

When the Holy Spirit comes to abide, in you, forever, He comes to sanctify! To cleanse and purify. To make us the acceptable Temple of the Holy Spirit Himself!

"Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6: 19).

How we today need to listen in humility and great awe as Paul prays:

"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;"

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,"

"May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;"

"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,"

"Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3: 16 - 21).

This prayer is so glorious. It helps illuminate the glory of the Lord's promise. It is beyond the ability of the mere human mind to either explain or define. It is far more wonderful than anything man's limited imagination could ever hope to reach.

This is genuine spiritual reality! It is to be claimed in humble child-like faith. It is to be experienced and lived by the love, that Christ-like live, which joyfully obeys.

The Lord Jesus gives, to even us, this assurance! "If any man will do His will, he shall know!" (John 7: 17).

"He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings: and the Word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me."

The Lord Jesus had been opening before His disciples the most exciting panorama of the true Christian life.

There were those who had listened to Him with the attentive ears of true faith. Being inspired by the indescribable glory of the potential He revealed.

That incredible reality, with all the varying elements involved, inspires every true Christian in their love for the Lord. Thus they seek to demonstrate their love in the way He teaches them to do so.

The Lord does remind us that we can reject all that He so graciously offers. We can follow an alternative path: the negative response of unbelief!

Many "Christians" loudly claim to love Him. But, He knows that their words are empty pretense. In their hearts they really do not love Him. He is not first in their affections. He knows and identifies that fact.

"This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me!" (Matthew 15: 8).

The evidence is clear. The person who does not love the Lord Jesus is the person who does not honor Him by obeying His Word. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7: 20).

The Lord Jesus wants us to understand this vital Biblical and spiritual principle. Those who do not love Him do not obey His Word! Those who do not keep and obey His Word do not love Him. It works both ways!

As far as God is concerned, the one always proves the other. It is always according to these facts that He evaluates us, and our response.

It was this crucial fact which the man of God emphasized as he sought to deal with Eli. "But now the LORD saith, Be it far from Me; for them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed" (1 Samuel 2: 30).

God states: to disregard His Word is to despise Him! That is very strong. Yet it must be honored!

It is the worst kind of hypocritical pretense to loudly profess to love the Lord while the life and actions demonstrate the exact opposite.

Is it any wonder that in His eternal love He does require our exclusive loyalty? In our Love! In our lives! In our obedience!

"The Word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent me!"

There are so many ways in which the Lord Jesus personally reaffirmed this fact. The Word which He spoke was never His own Word. Nothing He ever said was spoken in independence from the Word of the Father. Whenever He spoke, He spoke the Word of the Father!

"The Words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works" (John 14: 10)

"I can of Mine own self do nothing (say nothing): as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not My own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me" (John 5: 30).

The result of this fact is also so clearly stated by the Lord Jesus. "For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak."

"And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak" (John 12: 49, 50).

The Word spoken by the Lord Jesus was the Word of God. Without any exception.

Yet there are "Christians" who live, talk and act as though His Word has no authority with them!

What is at stake? "That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him" (John 5: 23).

There is only one way to genuinely honor the Son. To love Him with the genuine love which willingly honors His Word in constant and total obedience.

When we do honor the Son in the way He requires we also please and honor the Father. That is the key.

Yet, with all this incredible and exciting evidence revealed in the Word of Jesus, why should some still doubt? Or delay? Or seek to excuse themselves?

Why do so many so clearly demonstrate such a tragic reluctance to take the Lord Jesus at His Word?

There is one thing which is unmistakably obvious. The Christian who really does love the Lord. Who wants to actively and genuinely express their love. They are enthusiastic about grasping every opportunity they are given to prove the faithfulness of their love.

Their lives are lives of willing obedience. Joyful obedience. Constant obedience. Enthusiastic obedience.

They grasp every possible way to say, I really do love the Lord Jesus!

Even as they, with thankfulness, fully expect the Lord to do everything that He says He will do in response to such genuine love. They know that the Father, in His infinite and unfailing love, will never fail.

That is love. Love as the Lord Jesus defines it. Love as He requires it. Love as He expresses it.