Jesus’ demand for implicit obedience is one we have already alluded to briefly—John 15:14–15: “You are My friends, if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
It is vital to understand that Jesus was not suggesting that obedience makes someone His friend—as if His favor could be earned through service. He was saying, however, that obedience is a singular proof that someone is His friend. Implicit obedience to His commandments is the necessary, expected, and natural fruit of genuine love for Him. It is also therefore the telltale mark of authentic saving faith.
Again, a necessary inference is that someone who does not do what Jesus says is not a friend of His at all. He was describing as clearly as possible a master-slave relationship. But Jesus had kept nothing secret from His disciples. His purposes were fully known to them: “all things that I have heard from My Father I have madre known to you” (v. 15). They were therefore much more than mere slaves to Him.
They were His friends as well, privy to His thoughts and purposes (cf. 1 Cor. 2:16). In a similar way, every ruler would have friends among his subjects to whom he might reveal personal matters, but they were still his subjects. Friendship with one’s lord or master does not nullify the authority inherent in the relationship.
My name is Cesar and I’m A Voice in The Desert
www.avoiceinthedesert.net
www.mywalkwithmycreator.com
#avoiceinthedesert
It is vital to understand that Jesus was not suggesting that obedience makes someone His friend—as if His favor could be earned through service. He was saying, however, that obedience is a singular proof that someone is His friend. Implicit obedience to His commandments is the necessary, expected, and natural fruit of genuine love for Him. It is also therefore the telltale mark of authentic saving faith.
Again, a necessary inference is that someone who does not do what Jesus says is not a friend of His at all. He was describing as clearly as possible a master-slave relationship. But Jesus had kept nothing secret from His disciples. His purposes were fully known to them: “all things that I have heard from My Father I have madre known to you” (v. 15). They were therefore much more than mere slaves to Him.
They were His friends as well, privy to His thoughts and purposes (cf. 1 Cor. 2:16). In a similar way, every ruler would have friends among his subjects to whom he might reveal personal matters, but they were still his subjects. Friendship with one’s lord or master does not nullify the authority inherent in the relationship.
My name is Cesar and I’m A Voice in The Desert
www.avoiceinthedesert.net
www.mywalkwithmycreator.com
#avoiceinthedesert
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