John 14:15 English Standard Version (ESV) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

A hearty thanks to my best friend for reminding me that Jesus said this also. In yesterday’s offering it was keeping His Word which was logos, the spoken word. Here today just a few short verses prior to John 14:23 we see Jesus asking us to keep His commandments.

Commandments in the Greek here is entolē which means “that which is prescribed to one by reason of his office”. This refers back to the Mosaic Law and the priesthood. Only one who has authority can issue laws. God is the law maker and the priests enacted the rights of atonement. Christ is both.

14:15 came before 14:23 and that is not surprising as God is a God of order. Things that take place first have priority over the actions that follow. 14:15 requires an acknowledgement of authority. We must accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of our life, giving Him the authority over our lives. Then He becomes our Savior.

In 14:23 the word is logos, the spoken word. At the end of that verse Jesus declares that He and the Father will make their home in us. You cannot expect God to move in and not take ownership of the house. All things have been given into His hands. We make Him the Lord of our lives, He moves in, takes ownership and speaks to us in a close personal relationship.

This was the great stumbling block for the traditional Jew. They could not accept that the God of all creation would come and live in sinners. They failed to accept the far reaching effects of the atoning work of the Cross. For them the priesthood and the ritualist offerings was the only atonement they would accept. While they might have been astonished by all that Jesus said and did, they would not accept Him as God and Chief Priest.

He is both.

John 14:23 English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

“If I give you my word I will keep it.”

That is a promise from our self to others. The ability to keep that promise is condition upon our ability to control every circumstance. We make promises and then find out we cannot always keep them.

Here Jesus asks us to keep His word. That sounds like He wants us to keep His promises but we do not have the power to keep God’s promises. It is God who keeps His promises. So what does Jesus mean when He says “keep my word”?

John 1:1 English Standard Version

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Word here is logos which is the spoken word. We have His words which are contained in our bibles. If we love Him then His Word is near and dear to us. Keeping His Word can literally mean not to substitute His words with our own. If we place His Word in our hearts, then they are available for recall by the remembrance that the Holy Spirit initiates.

1 John 1:1 English Standard Version

The Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life

In the practical sense His Word is life. If we keep His Word we have His life.

Galatians 2:20 English Standard Version (ESV) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.