They'll Keep Your Word Also (Jn 15:10-20)
Exposition: Jesus' Absolute Authority & Submission
1. Jesus has absolute authority (v10); e.g. Jn 14:6-9, 15:10, 15:23-24
2. Jesus has absolute submission (v15)
This is what Jesus means when he tells his disciples to keep his commandments just as he kept his father's commandments & remained in his love, Jn 4:34, 5:19, 8:29, 12:49-50, 15:10, 15:15
3. How does he have both?
Is Jesus 100% authoritative as God 100% submissive as man? Yes, Phil 2, but He claims absolute authority to be heard & obeyed on the grounds of his absolute submission, Jn 5:19, 6:29, 7:16-17, 7:28, 8:26, 12:49-50, 15:10, 15:15
Application
"If they kept My word, they will keep yours also" (15:18-20). Why? Because the word & work are not ours.
Ministers of the word
See Jn 17:8. Cf v26,27, where our testimony is joined with that of the Spirit.
Church officers
We must be able to say, "It is our food & drink to do His will & finish His work."
Husbands, Fathers, Single Men
There are fathers who, in the eyes of their families, have all the absolute authority of God, because of their absolute submission to God.
Wives, Mothers, Single Women
Women often have authority that men lack because they've gained it from God through submission.
Students & Children
When you keep his commandments, as he kept his father's commandments, & submit yourselves to God, you will gain God's authority before men.
Not yet a Christian?
See Jn 15:16, cf Lk 16:29-31
"He who exalts himself will be abased. But he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Lk 18:14) |
