"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” – John 15:9-17

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” – John 15:9-17

We humans are probably the most difficult species to love. We have a way of isolating God and his love. But he loves us unconditionally. He continues to love us. He demonstrated his love in Christ Jesus.

We sometimes wish God would just love us and everyone else without getting us involved in the whole loving process. It is sometimes so hard to love other people, for whatever reason.

In the text, Jesus told his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” He told them of the love of God, which was demonstrated in his cruel death and in his resurrection.

The love of God is something which many people in the world have a great difficulty understanding. Therefore, people find every excuse to blame God for the misfortunes in this world today.

The existence of God and his care for the people of the world is a concern which constantly plagues the people of the world. They do not understand why people suffer, especially their family members.

Many may reason: If God is so loving, why would he allow the disasters that take place in our world? Why do people have to go through so much pain and suffering, particularly during illness?

I do understand what it is like to have a family member linger in pain and agony. My father and two brothers suffered and died from cancer. Additionally, my recently departed mother suffered for years before dying from old age.

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