OzThoughts – Thursday 14th May, 2009

OzThoughts – Thursday 14th May, 2009

Today’s selection from John’s Gospel flows on from yesterday’s reading the branches (Disciples / us) of the vine (Jesus), who with help from the farmer (Heavenly Father), goes on to produce fruit as a healthy thriving plant must.

Having shown the necessary relationship the branches to the vine and the help of the farmer to produce fruit, Jesus now goes on to talk further to the Disciples about relationships and this time uses the strongest positive emotion called love.

Because of the way the Father loved Jesus, Jesus was able to show love to the Disciples. I imagine the Disciples would all have incidents of when Jesus showed them as individuals and a group a level of love that was not only surprising but was overwhelming.

They would also remember some incidents when Jesus showed his love to others in an extraordinary way. They would remember him reaching out to lepers, and others with disease. They would remember him reaching out to the out-of-control man who lived among tombstones. They would remember him healing in the Synagogue on the Sabbath and arousing the wrath of the authorities. They would remember him reaching out to children when they, as grumpy men , tried to move them on.

They would remember Jesus reaching out to those who were discriminated against because of race like the woman of Samaria. They would remember, too, Jesus reaching out to Zacchaeus who was vilified because of his occupation.

They would remember Jesus saying that there is no greater demonstration of love than a man giving up his life for his friends. They would see that coming into focus now Jesus was talking about leaving them and his own coming death.

As they thought about Jesus loving them and others, they now hear him saying this relationship of love between the Father, Jesus and them is all related to obedience and keeping commands.

John 15:8-11 (The Message)

8 This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
9-10 "I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.
11. I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.

[Listen: Songster: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2449.mp3
or
Trombone solo: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1999.mp3 ]

I am so glad that our Father in Heaven
Tells of his love in the book he has given;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see;
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

Chorus
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me,
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

Jesus loves me and I know I love him;
Love brought him down my poor soul to redeem,
Yes, it was love made him die on the tree;
O I am certain that Jesus loves me!

If one should ask of me, how could I tell?
Glory to Jesus, I know very well;
God's Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,
Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.

O if there's only one song I can sing
When in his beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song in eternity be:
O what a wonder that Jesus loves me!

In this assurance I find sweetest rest,
Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest;
Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee
When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.
Author: Philip Paul Bliss (1838-76)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 323

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