Psalm. 66:8-20 / John 14:15-21

This Sunday, May 14, we continue the Eastertide focus on Jesus’ “I Am” statements in John’s Gospel. Our reading picks up on the heels of the May 7 Gospel reading. It is John 14:15-21.

This passage identifies love as the binding and animating power between God and us. To begin, take note of all the places in this passage where the word “love” appears.

Jesus makes a series of cause-and-effect statements about love. They can be found in John 14:15 and 21. These have an “if/then” structure regarding love. Since we believe God’s love is not earned, but freely and graciously given to us, how can these “if/then” statements not be about earning God’s love?

Try this substitution: in verse 15, put “Whenever” at the beginning. In verse 15, substitute the first word “If” with “Whenever”. In verse 21, try this:

“[Whenever you] have my commandments and keep them [you] are those who love me; and [you] will be loved by my Father, and I will love [you] and reveal myself to [you].”

Do these substitutions clarify the message for you?