The Greatest Love

9 Mar

John 15:1-17

It was simple: a children's hospital sits next to a football stadium where the Hawks play. The stadium could have ignored the hospital, two completely unrelated activities. But instead, every game, something beautiful happens.

The entire crowd turns toward the hospital windows and waves. Those windows have little silhouettes in them, children fighting cancer, some who won't make it. And one precious child has put a sign in the window: "Go Hawks."

The team said, "You're part of us. We're embracing you." And that little boy felt like he belonged, like he was on the team, even from a hospital bed.

As beautiful as that act of kindness is, and it is beautiful, Jesus offers something even greater.

Our Deepest Need

Sometimes our deepest wounds come from feeling like we don't belong. Sometimes the deepest wounds come from people who tell us we don't belong.

But how magnificent and special is it for Jesus to say to us all: "I love you. I choose you. You belong."

This isn't just a bit of encouragement to get you through the day. To belong to God through the work of Jesus is to know what love is and how to love. It's the most powerful thing you have in your life.

Whether you're going through a hard time, life is pretty rosy, or somewhere in between, be encouraged.

The Greatest Love Defined

We live in a world obsessed with love. Romantic love. Self-love. Conditional love with healthy boundaries. But what is the greatest love?

Jesus defines it in His farewell words to the disciples on the night of His death. He was able to cope with His own mortality and suffering because of God's love poured into Him. Remember His words in the garden? "Father, if there's any other way than the cross, I'd be stoked." Then He waits. "Not my will, but yours."

How did He go to the cross? What gave Him strength?

Love.

Love from God that He was willing to pour out completely, holding nothing back for us.

The True Vine

Jesus uses the image of a vine. The disciples would have been familiar with this—in the Old Testament, Israel was often described as God's vine. But here it's not the people who are the vine.

It's Jesus Himself. "I am the vine; you are the branches" (v. 5).

The big idea: The greatest love is divine love.

It's sacrificial, fruit-producing love that flows from the Father's love to the Son, and then through Him to us.

Tonight we're encouraged to abide in Jesus and His love. Because if we don't, we'll abide in the world and love that never reaches the heights and sustaining power of God's love.

We're faced with a choice: Will you abide in Jesus and become like Jesus, or will you abide in the world and become worldly?

The Temptation to Abide Elsewhere

Growing up, Stu fell in love with rock and roll. Going to a Hoodoo Gurus concert at Coogee Bay Hotel felt more powerful than coming to church. He didn't get to mosh with a thousand young people at church. So he was fooled into thinking he could abide in both, both the world and the church.

But if you really give yourself over to that world, you become part of that world.

Today, at least 40% of young people leave the church when they become adults. Why?

To be part of the world and abide in the world instead of Jesus.

If you're young, Jesus is calling you to make a choice: Are you going to abide in me, or abide in the world and an inferior love?

That doesn't mean you can't enjoy the world or go to a concert. But sometimes we fall in love with things that take our affections away from Jesus.

Three Truths About the Greatest Love

The Source of the Greatest Love (vv. 1-8)

"I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener" (v. 1).

Jesus is the vine; we are the branches. If we abide in Him and His love, His love will flow through Him into us the same way the Father's love flows into Jesus.

Even to the point of being able to face cancer as a child. How does a child have the wisdom and strength to face cancer? Someone told that child Jesus loved him and His love would sustain him. And he simply believed it.

No wonder Jesus says unless you become like a little child, you can't enter the kingdom of heaven. We adults complicate things so much when it's actually simple:

Abide in Jesus, and His love will strengthen you and produce fruit, even if it's the smile on your face while struggling with life-threatening disease.Jesus describes the Father as a gardener who prunes fruitful branches and discards unfruitful branches.

Jesus knows our hearts. He knows if we're just pretending, keeping our options open, not really committed. Unless we're truly connected to Jesus, we'll be cut off.

Do you remember a time when you've been distracted, then suddenly shaken out of it, thinking, "Hang on, this isn't me"? Stu once walked into Sutherland Hotel to see his favourite guitarist. But as soon as he and his brother walked in, they realised the room was full of motorcycle gangs. Everyone went quiet and stared.

One guy said, "I don't think you belong here."

They turned and walked out.

Stu realised he was becoming excited about something that wasn't who he was.

Do you ever find yourself in circumstances that feel uncomfortable? It might be the Holy Spirit making you uncomfortable. It might be Jesus saying, "If you're going to be here, stand up for me. And if you can't, maybe don't stay."

Do you ever stop a movie even though you paid for it? Change channels? Or do you think, "I'm strong enough to watch this"?

This abiding is a daily thing. If you find yourself abiding in the world, your conscience will get blunted. Sin is sweet for a season, and worldliness takes us before we realise.

Jesus says the most incredible thing in verse 5: "Apart from me you can do nothing."

Abiding means ongoing dependent union with Jesus, letting His words abide in us (v. 7).

How do you abide in Jesus? Is it just something you hope to have energy for, or something practical?

It's practical. Through God's Word, prayer, obedience, and gathering with God's people, you abide in Jesus. You're reading about Jesus' love, talking to your Heavenly Father, and experiencing love with others face to face instead of online.

Do you pick up your phone first thing in the morning, or God's Word? Abiding in the digital world means you become digital people, losing concentration, losing the ability to communicate with people unlike you, becoming increasingly selfish.

2. The Measure of the Greatest Love (vv. 9-14)

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love" (v. 9).

This love is measured by obedience to the Father (v. 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."

You have a sinful nature and a spiritual nature as a Christian. The Holy Spirit constantly reminds you not to go back to the things of the flesh. Some call it the "old man". But because we're still sinners, we fight.

The longer we live, the more we realise we fight the fight of faith every day. But the good news: We will receive a crown of life. One day we'll be with Jesus and have no sin anymore.

We are His friends, chosen and appointed. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit" (v. 16).

It's not just our choice to bear fruit; it's a command from the One who loves us to love. We don't have a choice as Christians. We are Jesus' friends, so we will love others.

3. The Overflow of the Greatest Love (vv. 12-17)

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you" (v. 12).

How often do we wave at people? Try this tomorrow: Wave at someone. See what happens. After they stop thinking you're weird, they'll probably smile.

That act of kindness flows from someone saying, "I don't know how to fix this world, but I can fix this part. And it starts with me. I can't help anyone until I'm fixed. And only Jesus can fix us."