Let’s look at the verses that surround today’s introduction as Jesus speaks to his disciples. John 15, lines nine through ten state:

Followed by verse twelve:

Jesus speaks of his joy, meaning his great happiness, delight, or pleasure, that this euphoria would be shared with his disciples. In the collective three lines preceding and following, “love” is used seven times! Love! The message from Jesus is clear! Love! He commands in line twelve “to love”!

Love, not hate! Not the hate that is spewed from any of today’s digital media. Love! Don’t give in to the primordial emotions of hate and fear! Don’t be played by the talking heads!

Love! Jesus commands us to love!

Think of it. Jesus is issuing his own commandment: “Love one another”!

Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees as to which was the greatest commandment, and part of his answer in Matthew 22:39 was:

The recurring message from Jesus is to love!

Our neighbor is across the street, across the county, across the state, across the country, and across the world. It is imperative upon us to help. Help in any way that you can. This is Jesus speaking to us, not any talking head in the media or elected office. Jesus.

Jesus, as God’s messenger, God’s son, is always very specific in what he is saying. He uses the word “command” since he was there from the beginning. He was there when Moses took the tablets down from Mt. Sinai, and he was famously there when he told the Pharisees in John 8:58, “Before Abraham was, I am”!

The message from Jesus is clear. Love. Live your life as though your afterlife depends on love, because it does!

God above, love is not necessarily an easy thing to do. Give us the strength, power, and determination to love those around us, and around the world, as Jesus would have us do. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Sam Barto.



Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.