Gospel lesson for the week

John 15:9-17

On the night of his arrest, Jesus delivers a final testimony to his disciples to help them in the days ahead. Here, he repeats the most important of all his commands, that they love one another.

⁹As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.¹⁰If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.¹¹I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ¹²This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.¹³No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command you.¹⁵I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.¹⁶You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.¹⁷I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Gospel Reflection Questions 
 to share and discuss

1. What does it mean to you to have Jesus call you “friend”?
   
   
2. Jesus calls us to “love one another.”  Must we like one another, too?
   
   
3. What does it mean for Jesus’ joy to be in us?
   
   

Prayer

Dear God, as we call Jesus our friend, we pray that we might be more like Jesus in all areas of our lives, that we might love our neighbors even if we do not always understand their words and actions.  And, we pray for joy in our lives, for ourselves, our friends and all people in Christ.  Amen.

This is Mt. Olive’s weekly online Bible Study for youth, adults and families. Each week we will reflect on the coming weekend’s Gospel text covered at our upcoming worship services. This is your opportunity to read the text, reflect on the questions, share and discuss with friends and family, and share a prayer.

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illustration by Julie Lonneman exclusively for Augsburg Fortress.