Obedience Comes from Love – 14 May 2023

John 14:15–21

The gospel reading for this week begins where the previous Sunday's text ended. Jesus calls on his disciples to demonstrate their love for him by obeying his commandments, referring back to 13:34, where he commanded them to love each other in the same way he had loved them. Love for Jesus can never be separated from obedience to Jesus. Obedience to Jesus must never be separated from Jesus' love for believers. –– Aaron J. Couch

The tricky thing is balancing somewhere on the tightrope between obligation keeping and liberation seeking. Pure obligation keeping leads to oppressive, regimented legalism with blinders on, communities of faith unable and unwilling to respond either to the world or to God's new movements of the spirit. On the other hand, pure liberation seeking leads to “tossing to and fro on the winds of doctrine,” chasing after the next new thing, whatever it is, that will loose one from whatever restrictions one wishes to be released from; antinomianism, in theological terms. –– Delmer L. Chilton

Jesus reassures his followers that they are loved by God, but reminds us that the love of God does not translate into being loved by the world. Instead, we should expect no less than Jesus received, being suspect and hated by many in society. In words reiterated in 1 Peter, Jesus asserts that we may receive the same treatment as Jesus, but that this is the lot of those chosen by God in Christ.

So what do Easter people look like? They are conformed to the posture of the cross, willing to endure resistance, even suffering, but doing so with hope. We will proclaim the Good News of Christ thoughtfully and with deeds of justice and mercy, and, at times, even miraculous actions. . . . We praise God, for he has liberated the oppressed, and heard our prayer. With this confidence, we face a world that at any turn may oppose us. –– Todd E. Johnson

1 Peter 3:13–22

This Easter season we have been following the teaching of 1 Peter, a text some believe may (in whole or part) have been a baptismal catechesis. Regardless of it origins, it has provided a reality check for the enthusiasm of the Easter season, with its reminders of challenges and persecutions that come along with promises of God's sustaining presence and our eternal hope. Today is no exception. We are admonished to keep our lives aboveboard, living our faith openly and plainly, with a clear conscience no matter the consequences. We must always be prepared to do good, irrespective of the consequences. We have been born into new life in Christ, dying to self and raised with Christ through our baptism. Yet just as Christ suffered, so too may we suffer. Our imitation of Christ is expected to be complete, in passion and in glory. –– Todd E. Johnson

Acts 17:22–31

Paul is interacting with the philosophers and religious leaders on Mars Hill where a monument to an unknown God stands. Paul's approach relies less on physical evidence and much on logic and argumentation. –– Todd E. Johnson

Todd E. Johnson served for a number of years as associate professor of worship, theology, and the arts at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, and is now the Senior Pastor of First Covenant Church in Seattle, Washington.

Aaron Couch is a co-pastor of First Immanuel Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon.

Homily Service 41, no. 2 (2008): 155–162.