What they meant was that love for God, by its very nature, produces the consistent characteristic of “the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5). Neither Jesus nor John meant that obeying Jesus’s commandments is the same thing as love. “God made us to wear our love on our sleeves. It’s why everyone understands Edward John Carnell’s illustration of a husband asking, “Must I kiss my wife goodnight?” Because we know the answer is “Yes, but not that kind of must.” Not That Kind of Must That’s why everyone laughs at John Piper’s illustration of a husband handing his wife a big bouquet of flowers on their wedding anniversary and then telling her he’s just fulfilling his obligation as a dutiful husband. We all know intuitively that the essence of love is not merely its actions. And the apostle John echoed Jesus when he wrote, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3).Īt face value, these statements should make any lover uncomfortable. We know this because Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). We know if we love Jesus by what we consistently (not perfectly) do and don’t do. Talk to God about how his name and presence affect your life, express gratitude for who he is, and simply enjoy this time of communicating with him.How do we know if we really love Jesus? The Bible’s answer might surprise you. What do you think these seven “I am” statements and metaphors communicate about the identity of Jesus as the source of life? John records Jesus saying “I am the bread of life” (6:35), “I am the light of the world” (8:12), “I am the gate for the sheep” (10:7), “I am the good shepherd” (10:11), “I am the resurrection” (11:25), “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6), and “I am the true vine” (15:1).What similarities and differences do you notice? What can this comparison tell us about Jesus’ identity and mission? What did God tell Moses about the ground? Why do you think Judas, the religious officials, and the Roman soldiers fell to the ground when Jesus said “I am”? To help you review today’s text and make observations, try summarizing this scene out loud in your own words. ![]() How does John tell this specific story in order to highlight his introductory claim that Jesus is the source of life? The religious leaders deny that Jesus is the source of life and begin to plot his death, not realizing that his death would actually lead to the ultimate sign of life- resurrection! In today’s study, let’s zoom into the moments right before Jesus is arrested, tried, and executed. These signs and teachings convince some that he really is the Messiah, God in the flesh, the great “I am.” But Jesus’ actions also stir up a lot of controversy in the religious community. He goes on to support this claim by sharing eyewitness accounts of Jesus giving life to others through his miraculous signs and teachings. John begins his book by introducing Jesus as the source of all life.
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