Food for thought from....

John 13:1



[ Jesus washes the disciples feet] Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

John 13:34-35
“34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 14
15 "If you love me, you will keep (obey) my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you…
21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep (obey) my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep (obey) my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

John 15:9-11
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep (obey) my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.



How does Jesus link his actions to his love for the disciples?
Why is it a “new command” in John 13:34-35?
What are your thoughts/feelings about Jesus’ “if, then” demands on love?
Why is obedience so essential to loving God?
Why is it so key that God sends us his Holy Spirit to help us?
What is the Holy Spirit’s role in our love relationship with God and others?
What is our role in our love relationship with God?
What needs to change in our lives in order to experience this and live it out…?