Jesus made the relationship between love for Him and obedience very clear. “If you love Me, you will do what I say.” We sometimes would rather there be other criteria. On the great day, many will try to defend themselves. “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” “I never knew you,” will be His stunning reply. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.”
The great news for all of us who often find our love lacking is the promise Jesus gives His disciples. He knows we’re not much different than Peter. There is no doubt Peter disobeyed as he denied Jesus three times. Later, he was upset that Jesus kept asking if he loved Him. Peter loved Him with a friend’s love, but God is after more. Jesus’ greatest command is troubling to all who take the time to think about it. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Who can obey this call?
Only the Holy Spirit makes such love possible. As Jesus tells the truth about those that love Him, notice the promise He makes to help us obey. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him… If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” John 14:15-24