Called to Obey

John 15:14-16

Introduction:

As human beings we play different roles in our lives. Usually we have more than one

roles. Adolescents like you as an example are students during weekdays from 8-5. After

school, some of you are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters or a friend. These

roles entail different responsibility. Whatever status or roles we have in life, if you are a

Christian, your one big life role is as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. This role has

but one responsibility – consistent obedience to the Lord.

Why should we choose to obey the Lord’s command(s)?

1. It is the evidence that we are friends with Jesus Christ (v.14-15)

“You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for

the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all

that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

Illustration: Sherlock and Watson

Sherlock: “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”

Watson: “I see millions and millions of stars.”

Sherlock: “What does that tell you?”

Watson: “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially

billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce

that time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all-

powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will

have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?”

Sherlock: “Watson, you @#*!. Someone has stolen our tent!”

According to Jesus, obedience to his commands is the evidence that his disciples are

friends with him. He contrasted it with another kind of relationship, namely, that of

master-slave relationship. According to Jesus, his relationship with his disciples is not

like that because he has revealed to them everything that he has heard from God the

Father. This means that he sees his disciples as a person. Back in their days, a slave

has no say about anything; his purpose in life is mainly functional. Slaves during those

days have no rights because they are not acknowledged to be a person but a property.

His disciples understand the difference between a friend-to-friend relation and that of

the master-slave. Jesus is therefore asking them to obey his commands (which is to

love one another btw) not as an obligation but as natural manifestation of their

friendship with him. If a person is truly a friend of Jesus Christ, he/she will naturally love

others who are friends with Jesus as well.

2. Fruit-bearing (v. 16a)

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and

bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…”

The second reason why Jesus called his disciples to obey his command to love one

another is so that they will bear much fruit that last. In the Old Testament, vine is often

used to refer to Israel. According to Jesus, he is the true vine. His disciples according to

him, are the branches. But what is the fruit? The meaning of being fruitful in this verse

is “being Christ-like”, that is, manifesting Jesus in our lives. He wants his disciples to be

like him, to love like him. The way Jesus loved his friends is the greatest love of all (v.

13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

God by being human in the person of Jesus Christ became our true Friend.) Obedience

to Christ transforms his disciples to his likeness. We must constantly try to obey with all

our hearts until obedience to Him becomes as natural as it could be.

Illustration: A person once had to wear a mask which made him look much nicer than

he really was. He had to wear it for year. And when he took it off he found his own face

had grown to fit it. He was now really beautiful.

3. So that we might receive whatever we ask God in His name (v. 16b)

“…so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

The third reason why it is necessary for the followers of Christ to obey his commands is

they cannot receive what they ask from God if they don’t obey. Obedience is necessary

to transform the character of a person. Before we can expect God to answer our

prayers, we must learn first to become the right person so that we can ask the correct

requests.

Conclusion:
We have sufficient reasons why we should choose to obey the Lord’s commands as his

followers. If we are not yet a follower of Jesus Christ, these words cannot be applied to

your life. But it is not too late to be friends with Jesus Christ, now is the time of salvation

and all you need to do is to ask for forgiveness for all your sins and surrender your life

under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Application:

 Feel confident and motivated on your decision to follow and obey Christ in your

life.

 Share the joy of being friends with Christ to other people.

 Forgive other Christians who did you wrong.