Message Notes

GOOD FRIDAY MESSAGE 10 April 2020
Text: John 14:15-31; 15:9-17
Title: “Greater love has no one than this” John 15:13

INTRODUCTION

1. The world celebrates today as “Good Friday!”

2. It almost seems an anomaly to call it “Good Friday” when we think of the suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary!

3. How is this day a “Good Friday?”

THE THEME OF LOVE

1. The subject of Love is well discussed in the Gospel of John

a) Clear statements about God’s love

i) Teaching of the Apostle John : God’s love for the world

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16)

ii) Declaration by John the Baptiser: God’s love for His Son

The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand (John 3:35)

iii) Declaration by the Lord Jesus Christ

For the Father loves the Son
And shows Him all things that He Himself does (John 5:20)

b) Clear reality

i) Love for darkness

Men loved darkness rather than light
Because their deeds are evil (John 3:19)

ii) No love for God

You do not have the love of God in you (John 5:42)

2. The Love of Jesus

a) Observation of how Jesus loved: “To the end”

i) Jesus knew that His hour had come (John 13:1a)

ii) He loved His own (John 13:1b)

iii) He loved them to the end (John 13:1c)

b) A new commandment given (John 13:34)

i) A commandment from Jesus
A new commandment I give to you

ii) A commandment to love one another
That you love one another

iii) The example of how Jesus loved
As I have loved you

iv) Love as a hallmark of Discipleship  (John 13:35)
By this will know that you are My disciples,
If you have love for one another

3. A Test of love for the Lord Jesus Christ

a) Keeping of the commandments of the Lord Jesus

If you love Me, keep My commandments. (John 14:15)

b) Reiteration of keeping the Lord’s commandments

i) He who has My commandments and keeps them

ii) It is he who loves Me (John 14:21)

4. Response from God when there is genuine love

a) Keeping of Christ’s word

If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word (John 14:23)

b) The Father’s love

And My Father will love him,
And we will come to him and make our home with him (John 14:23)

c) Danger of no real love for God noted

He who does not love Me does not keep My words (John 14:24)

5. Love for the Father

a) A testimony

b) A declaration

i)That I love My Father (John 14:31a)

ii) As the Father gave Me commandment
so I do. (John 14:31b)

THE GREATEST PROOF OF LOVE

1. Greater love has no one than this (John 15:13)

a) Great love

b) Greater love

2. Than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:14a)

a) Jesus did not just talk about Love

b) He demonstrated His love

c) Expressions of His love

i) Jesus called His disciples “friends”

ii) They are true friends if they did what they were
commanded to do (John 15:14b)

3. The express command of Jesus

a) That command was to love one another
as Jesus had loved them (John 15:13)

b) This commandment was reiterated

c) These things I command you
That you love one another (John 15:17)

4. Sustaining this Love

a) To abide in Jesus (John 15:4-6)

b) To abide in the word of Jesus (John 15:7)

c) Abide in the love of Jesus (John 15:9-10)

GOOD FRIDAY MESSAGE

1. To be IMMERSED in the love of God

a) Flooded with words of love expressed

b) Filled of expressions of God’s love

c) Outpoured by the Spirit of God (Romans 5:5)

2. To be IMPACTED AFRESH by the love of the Lord Jesus

a) His Love to the end

b) His love expressed in friendship

c) His love evidenced when He laid down His life for us

3. To INITIATE STEPS to obey the Lord Jesus

a) Commences with

i) Love for God the Father

ii) Love for Jesus our Saviour

iii) Through the Spirit of God

b) Conscious effort

i) To love one another

ii) To abide in the love of Jesus

iii) To keep His Commandment

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER”

The Call of God to salvation is given with a loving voice;
To be forgiven of all our sins is surely reason to rejoice!
God offers salvation full and free because of pure love;
There is no greater affection than that which comes from above!

The Challenge of Jesus to His Disciples was to love one another truly;
This was no easy task when the heart is filled with thoughts that are unruly.
The Commandment of Jesus is clear and unmistakable;
Love for one another is the Hallmark of True Disciples.

The Love of God for the world is clearly seen when He sent Jesus,
To die for our sins and to enable us to receive Imputed Righteousness.
The Love of Jesus was made plain for all to examine and to see;
He would love His own for He called them “friends” for eternity.

How we need to be totally immersed in the love of God!
The need of the hour is to be impacted afresh by the Lord.
May we determine to abide firmly in God’s love divine!
Then would we bear good fruit according to God’s design.

Charles Tan
Inspiration: John 13-15