The time was drawing nearer and nearer. It was almost time for Jesus to depart this earth. It was about time for him to leave his dear friends and disciples and return to the Father. Before he left, though, Jesus wanted to make sure his disciples knew exactly what he desired from them. There are many points that could be made from these six chapters, Jesus' final "lecture" to his disciples; two of them, stick out and seem to broadly cover the other points Jesus makes.
Jesus gives to his disciples "a new commandment". This new commandment is simply to love one another. I can't help believe that as Jesus prayed for the disciples and for future believers (chapter 17), he prayed that they would all love one another. This love Jesus instructs us to have for one another is to be "just as He loved us". This DOES NOT mean we are going to all get along all the time. Love isn't about getting along all the time. Love, instead, is about caring for one another, even when we get angry or annoyed. Love is about accepting people where they are, but not failing to expect the very best from each one. It is by loving one another that we experience true joy and contement in Christ.
He also instructs his disciples to "abide" in him, like a branch abides in its trunk. "Abide" isn't a word we use in our vocabulary very often--it simply means to stay connected in or to. Jesus' instruction and hope is that his followers would stay connected to him. By abiding in Christ, we allow Christ to transform our hearts and lives into Christ's hope for each of us.
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