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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJabez Burns Sermons: 038. Joh 15:9. The Love Of Christ To His People
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Joh_15:9. The Love Of Christ To His People
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love."—Joh_15:9.
The Saviour is discoursing in this chapter on the union subsisting between himself and his believing people. He likens himself to the vine, his people to the branches, and shows how entirely they depend upon him for fruitfulness and safety; ver. 5, 6. He then shows how the Father would be glorified in their bearing much fruit; and states that they might ask in prayer as largely and abundantly as they pleased; yet it should certainly be done unto them, ver. 7, 8. Then he declares unto them the affectionate sentiment of the text: "As the Father hath loved me," &c.
The subject contains, I. A Gracious Declaration. II. An Interesting Similitude. And, III. An Affectionate Exhortation. Observe,
I. The Gracious Declaration.
"I have loved you."
Christ's love is the very essence of the gospel; as without this no good tidings of great joy would ever have been communicated to perishing man. The love of Christ is evident,
1. From the professions of his love.
The name he assumed was a profession of his love. He was called Jesus, because he came to save his people from their sins. The professions of love to man he revealed by the prophets; they all testified of Christ, and of his love to the sons of men. When he appeared in our nature he manifested me most ardent attachment to our race: he exhorted them—wooed them—wept over them—went about healing their sicknesses, removing their misery, and forgiving their sins. His apostles, too, testify of Christ's professed love to mankind. "Herein is love," &c. "He loved us," &c. "Unto him who hath loved us," &c. His discourses, his miracles, his prayers, all proved the truth and sincerity of his love towards us. Observe,
2. The achievements of his love.
His love was effective, and produced the most glorious consequences to mankind. His love magnified the law, and removed the curse—his love made him our surety, and he bore the smart, endured the cross, despised the shame, and made his soul an offering for sin. Yes; he loved us, and gave himself for us. His love induced him to become our deliverer; to encounter the foes of our race; and to overcome, for our salvation, sin, death, and the grave. Yes; he spoiled our adversaries, he led captivity captive, overcame principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly. No-3. The provisions of his love.
His love has not only achieved much but provided for us the unsearchable riches of grace here, and of glory in the world to come. The blessings are too numerous to be named. We refer, merely as a specimen, to pardon, peace, righteousness, joy, immortality, resurrection of the body, and eternal life. "Eye hath not seen," &c. 1Co_2:9.
What has been advanced respecting Christ's love, may scripturally apply to all mankind. See Joh_3:14-18; also 1Jn_2:2. But he displays peculiar and special love to those who have believed on his name. These he loves with complacency and delight; and it is to these that our attention is expressly called in the second part of the subject Notice, then, in the text,
II. An Interesting Similitude.
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you," &c.
This similitude will, however, have to be guarded, as it cannot apply in every particular. The Father never loved Christ with a love of compassion, pity, or long-suffering, as the Saviour never stood in need of the exercise of these towards him. He never sinned; therefore, never required mercy, &c. This agreement between God's love to his Son, and the love of Christ to his people, may include,
1. The antiquity of his love.
Christ said to the Father, "Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world," Joh_17:24. So Christ loved the church, and his delights were with his people from everlasting, before the earth was, &c. Pro_8:23-31; Jer_31:3. It may refer,
2. To the ground of his love.
Ground of the Father's love to Christ was the express image he bore of himself. He beheld reflected from his countenance the bright rays of his own glory. So Chris loves his people because of their resemblance to himself. This likeness consists in being of one mind with Jesus, obeying his holy commandments, and following his steps. And for this he became incarnate that he might redeem to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, and that they might be partakers of the divine nature. Joh_14:21-23. It may include 3. The greatness of his love.
The Father loved the Son with an inexpressible love of complacency and delight. Isa_42:1, Mat_3:17, and Mat_17:5. In like manner Christ hath loved his people; and his love, in its length, and breadth, and depth, and height, passeth knowledge. He loved them so as to lay down his life, and shed his precious blood for them. Rev_1:5. This similitude may apply,
4. To the constancy of his love.
The Father loved the Son always—he was ever his delight—it never wavered nor abated for a single moment. "So Christ having loved his own, which are in the world, he loved them to the end." Joh_13:1. Yes; he loves them in all seasons and circumstances, in health, sickness, death, and eternity. It may refer,
5. To the evidences of his love.
And how did the Father evidence his love to his Son? He always heard him—was ever with him. Joh_16:32; Joh_11:42. He gave all things into his hands. Joh_3:35. So Jesus ever hears his people. He is with them always, and has made them heirs of all things. "All are yours," &c.; 1Co_3:22. "Heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." Rom_8:17. It may include,
6. The glorious rewards of his love.
The Father has given him a name above every name—raised him to great power and dominion; and has glorified him with the glory which he had with him before the world was. Yet, similar glory does Christ give to his people. "The glory which thou gavest me shall be given them." Joh_17:22. Rev_3:21. Rom_8:17. Notice in the text,
III. An Affectionate Exhortation.
"Continue ye in my love."
1. Continue to prize and value it.
And what so worthy of our highest joys and delight?
2. Continue to cultivate it.
It is a holy, tender affection, and must be nurtured with the greatest care.
3. Continue to abound more and more in it.
Make advances—grow in grace, &c. Fellowship closer.
4. Continue to evidence it, By walking as he walked, by keeping his commandments, loving one another, and promoting his cause.
5. Continue to profess and recommend it.
Christ's witnesses. Not ashamed, &c. Bear his badge, &c.
"Point sinners to his dying blood,
And cry, Behold the way to God."
The love of Christ constraineth us &c.
Application
(1) Sinner, do not despise Christ's love to thee.
(2) Mourning soul, dry up thy tears, and be happy in the provisions this love hath made.
(3) Disciple of Chris; rejoice in this love with joy unspeakable and full of glory.