Session 14

How to show Jesus you love Him

From John: A 21-Day Devotional

Jesus gives final instructions to His friends, explaining what they should do when He’s gone and tipping them off about the Counselor who is to come.

Obedience is not easy. Submitting to someone’s authority can be difficult. It may seem easier at times to do what we feel is right. In John 14, Jesus is clear about who is in charge — He is obedient to the Father. 

We can find a concise definition of obedience in James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” An important part of obedience is reading the Bible. However, reading words is just the first part of being obedient. The more important part is putting those words into action. When we read about giving generously to the poor, we actually go do it. When we read about forgiving our neighbor, we actually forgive them. This is true obedience.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

In John 14:15–23, Jesus tells us why obedience is such a big deal. He connects our obedience to our love for Him. He declares that our love for Him will give us a desire to be obedient. As we learn more about Him and fall deeper in love with Him, we will want nothing more than to be just like Him. The love of God prompts our obedience, not the other way around.

• What can you learn about Jesus from this chapter?
• What areas of your life don’t look much like Jesus?
• What is one thing you can do today to make your life look more like Jesus’ life?