Thessalonian Faith

The Disciples’ Relationship to One Another (John 15:9-17)

(43-45a)

For this week’s study:

  1. Whenever you read or study the Bible, always begin with prayer, asking God to guide you so you understand God’s message and learn His methods for living.
  2. Read John 15:9-17 several times using your Bible and the two translations provided below to understand the boundaries, content, and flow of the study passage. (Reading the passage once a day from any of those translations is recommended.)
  3. Read and respond to the “Study Guide” and use the “Study Resources” provided below to learn more from this study passage.

Read the Passage

Berean Standard Bible
(BSB)

No Greater Love

<9>As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. <10>If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. <11>I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

<12>This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. <13>Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

<14>You are My friends if you do what I command you. <15>No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. <16>You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. <17>This is My command to you: Love one another.

Word Come Alive
(WCA)
(An extended translation)*

‘You will brim over with joy’

<9>‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Stay as close as possible to my love. <10>If you keep my commands, you will stay as close as possible to my love, just as I have fully kept my Father’s commands and remain as close as possible to his eternal and infinite love. Your love for me is an echo of the Father’s love for me.

<11>‘As you draw on my resources you will find that keeping my commands isn’t dreary or unpleasant but enriches your lives enormously. In fact, I’ve told you all this so that my joy may be given to you and be in you. You will then brim over with joy.

<12>‘I command you to love one another just as I have loved you. <13>The ultimate love a person can show to their friends is when that person sacrifices their life for their friends. <14>You are my friends if you act on my commands. <15>In fact, I no longer call you servants, because a servant doesn’t have access to the confidential side of his master’s business. I call you my friends, because I have shared my heart with you and have passed on to you all the truth I’ve learnt from my Father. You enjoy the special privilege of being my friends.

‘Leave your comfort zone’

<16>‘You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and commissioned you to go and leave your comfort zone to bear fruit. That fruit will last a long time when many others follow me as you share my message. One part of that work will be praying: whatever you ask for, recognising my authority, the Father will give you. <17>I repeat my basic command to you: love one another.

* Words in italics are not translated from the original Greek text.  They have been added to explain and at times apply the text, much as a preacher does on a Sunday or notes do at the foot of the page in a study Bible. These additions are integrated with the text itself, and are in italics, so readers can see what has been explained, changed or added.

Study the Passage

Study Guide

The main idea of this passage is found in v. 12, “that you love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus first gave this instruction to His disciples in John 13:34.

  • What does John 13:34–35 say about this new commandment?

In John 15:9 of our study passage, Jesus commands us to remain in His love.

  • How do we remain in His love? (See v. 10 and describe this in your own words.)

Read verses 11-16 (slowly, thoughtfully, prayerfully) and make a list of all the benefits of remaining in Jesus’ love. (Include the verse number where you found each benefit.)

John 15:9 says Jesus loves us just like the Father loves Him.

  • What does Jesus’ love for us teach us about the Father?
  • What does the Father’s love for Jesus teach us about Father.

Study Resources

To learn more about this study passage, go to
https://www.bibleref.com/John/15/John-15-1.html. Read the commentary for each verse in the study passage.  (Also read the Context Summary and the Chapter Summary.)

If you have any questions about this passage, type the verse reference or your question in the search box at the top of
https://www.gotquestions.org/ and explore the results.

If you have a study Bible, read the footnotes and study notes and see how they help you understand this passage. Also, check out any maps, charts, and articles related to the study passage.

Footnotes: