Spurgeon Morning and Evening March 18 PM

Biblical Context

The Gospel of John, written by John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, is generally dated between 85-95 AD. John’s main purpose was to show Jesus as the divine Son of God, the Christ, so that all who read it would believe in Him and have eternal life, as stated in John 20:31. This particular chapter, John 15, is part of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse, delivered to His disciples just before His arrest and crucifixion. He’s preparing them for His departure, comforting them, and teaching them about their connection to Him and to each other. He talks about Himself as the true vine and believers as the branches, emphasizing the need for abiding in Him to bear fruit. The verse, “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you,” comes right in the middle of this teaching, tying their bond with Him directly to the eternal love within the Trinity. It’s a foundational statement about the source and quality of Jesus’ love for His followers. John writes these words to reassure believers of the deep, unbreakable bond they share with Christ, a bond rooted in divine love itself.

Key Word Study

The Greek word for “loved” in John 15:9 is ἀγαπάω (agapaō).

This is not just any kind of love; it’s a specific, selfless, unconditional love. It’s a love that chooses to give, even when it’s hard, and doesn’t depend on what the other person does or says. It’s a love that seeks the good of the one loved.

In the Bible, agapaō is often used to describe God’s love for humanity and the love believers should have for God and for each other. It’s a love that sacrifices, serves, and always stays true. It means deep, faithful care and commitment.

The Unchanging Love of Jesus Christ

The message from John 15:9, “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you,” isn’t just a nice thought; it’s a deep truth meant to anchor your soul. Jesus tells us that His love for us mirrors the Father’s love for Him. Think about that for a moment. How does God the Father love His Son?

Love Without Beginning

The source tells us that the Father loved Jesus “without beginning,” and that’s exactly how Jesus loves you, His followers. You can remember when you first started loving Christ, or when you felt His love for the first time. You can easily find the start of your own affection. But His love for you? That’s different. It’s a stream whose source isn’t in time; it’s hidden in eternity. It’s always been there. This is a love that predates everything, a love that’s always been set on you. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of this kind of love when he wrote, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). Before you were even a thought, before the world was shaped, His love was already on you. It’s a love that doesn’t just begin; it simply *is*.

Love Without Change

Just like God the Father loves Jesus without any change, Jesus Christ’s love for those who find rest in Him also never changes. This is such good news for you, Christian. You might have felt on top of the world yesterday, on “Tabor’s top,” saying, “He loves me!” Today, though, you might find yourself in a “valley of humiliation,” feeling down, or lost. But guess what? He loves you still the same. Your feelings or your circumstances don’t make His love waver even a little bit. It stays steady.

You might have heard His voice clearly, speaking sweetly with notes of love “on the hill Mizar, and among the Hermons.” Those were times of peace and clarity. But what about now? Maybe you’re “on the sea, or even in the sea, when all His waves and billows go over you.” It feels like everything is crashing down. Even then, His heart stays true to His “ancient choice” – His choice to love you. It doesn’t matter if you’re up or down, sailing smoothly or drowning; His love for you remains fixed.

Love Without End

The Father loves the Son without any end, and that’s how the Son loves His people. You don’t need to fear the future, saint, or worry about His love for you running out. His love for you will simply never stop. You can rest easy in that confidence. Even when you face your final moments, “down to the grave Christ will go with you.” And it doesn’t stop there. He’ll be your guide “up again from it,” leading you to the “celestial hills.” His love doesn’t have an expiration date; it goes through life, through death, and into eternity.

Love Without Measure

Beyond all this, the Father loves the Son without any measure, and Jesus gives that same immense love to His chosen ones. His whole heart is given to His people. We read in Scripture, “He loved us and gave Himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2). This isn’t a small affection; it’s a love that gave everything. It’s a love that goes beyond what we can even understand. It’s a love “which passeth knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). You can’t put a limit on it, because it has no bounds.

An Unchanging Savior

What a gift we have in Jesus! We have a Savior who is unchanging, so very valuable, one who loves us without measure, without change, without beginning, and without end, just like the Father loves Him! There’s a lot here to take in, to think about, and to let sink into your soul. May the Holy Spirit really lead us to understand the deep, rich goodness of these truths!