John 14:15-21

Wonderful Advice!

            We don’t like being told what to do. We don’t like when others order us around or tell us how something is supposed to be done. We have this visceral reaction to those in authority bossing us around. And there’s no surprise with this. For we all understand the close connection between authority figures and the law. Those who are given authority over us have the power to tell us what to do, i.e. the law. Parents make a law in their own house with their children. Bosses make their own law in their businesses. Governments make the law of the land, telling people what can or can’t be done. And we all understand this whether we like it or not. However, flip the script for a moment. How do you react when you ask someone for their advice? Do you have the same feeling of opposition then? For all advice is, is the law packaged in a different way. For with advice, we often say things like, “You should do it this way,” or “It’s best done in this manner…” and so on. With advice, you’re still telling people what to do, but with the only difference being that it was requested. For here is where we need to tie these two things together. We will listen to authority if we love them. If we respect those in authority, if we know they care for us, we’ll listen to them more freely and joyfully. Even if it’s something we don’t want to do, or hate doing, we’re more likely to do it if it comes from someone we respect and love: parents, teachers, pastors, mentors, or so on.  

            Likewise, in our Gospel lesson today, Jesus reminds us of the words he speaks and why we listen. If we love him, we’ll listen. Even to those hard words; even to those things we don’t fully understand. This is why faith is grounded in love, because it’s only those who love our Lord who hold his words and commands as sacred in their life. For let us learn today:

CHRIST HAS LOVED US BY GIVING US THE SPIRIT, SO WE MAY LOVE HIM BY KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS!

I.

            Of course, there’s different motivations for following those in authority. No, I don’t see anyone admiring the government right now. I’d wager that most people, not just in our own country but across the world, don’t say it’s because of love that they follow their government or obey the law. Rather, it’s fear. Fear of punishment that drives us to willingly comply. Same thing with God. You don’t have to love God in order to follow his rules and laws. In fact, many people, whether they know it or not, obey God’s moral law because he wrote it on our heart… and our conscience warns us of the consequences of breaking it. For what happens when we do break the law? The government could fine you, or throw you in jail. Parents might ground you and take away special privileges. Others might become simply more stern in conversation. And this works… for a time. Fear is indeed a strong motivator… but never perfect. It will eventually lose its power.

            For this is the issue about looking at the law as a cage or a leash of sorts. Whenever we discuss the law, be it God’s law or human laws, people think it’s restrictive. We imagine that the law hinders our freedom. And perhaps this is true at times on a human level. But never so with God. For the law isn’t meant as a cage or leash, but rather as guardrails, like those protecting you from veering off a cliff. The law is meant to protect you from falling into worse danger and destruction. It’s like the bumpers on a bowling lane that keep you from going in the gutter. Even still, this proves insufficient. Our sinful nature pushes us to jump over the rail or to push against it the moment those in authority are absent. When those restricting us disappear, we love to test the boundaries. For it’s this week that Jesus leaves us in his ascension. For so he says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,” John 14:16. Jesus knows our struggle against sin. He knows that without the Helper, we won’t be able to keep his law on our own. Without the Spirit, we’ll trample his law underfoot. 

II.

            This is why we must understand the true motivation of the Christian life. We can’t go about life solely in fear of God and his law. For if our only motivation is fear for God and his law, then we’ve failed to understand it. For as Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments,” John 14:15 and also, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me,” John 14:21. It’s purely out of love for God that we listen to him. It’s because of love that we follow his law, his teachings and words. We listen to our Lord and heed his advice because we’ve come to know his immense love for us. And even when we do falter, we return to him and face whatever discipline is necessary. As Hebrews says, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it,” Hebrews 12:11. Yes, we don’t like parents disciplining us, nor God, yet we understand that they both want what is best for us. We understand their love and desire to see us grow in maturity and righteousness.

            For so, when we think about God’s law, let us no longer think of it as simple commands or even demands of God. Rather, understand the law as God’s wonderful advice for you. It’s his love for you displayed through the life of Jesus Christ. Yes, this is the other side of the law. Christ is the very law embodied in human flesh. Thus, it’s impossible to love Christ and not love his law. It’s impossible to love the law and not love Christ. For it was this love that drove Christ to the cross. He suffered for us out of love and a fulfilling of the law. That is, by his death, he fulfilled the law for us. He kept it perfectly so now it may be counted to you. For it’s as simple as St. John says, “We love because he first loved us,” 1 John 4:19. We love God because he loved us first. We keep the law because he first kept it for us. Everything we do, flows from the love of God and through love for God. So, also God has given us his Holy Spirit to enliven the faith and love of Christ within us. As Christ says, “You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you,” John 14:17.

            Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us meditate on Christ’s words and see in them both light and life! For our faith hangs on every word that comes from the mouth of our Lord. And so, by His Spirit who dwells within us, may we be found faithful with his word that it may so transform our lives unto eternity! In Jesus’ name! Amen!