Introduction
This paper outlines and describes what I perceive as being the major ethical message expressed in the book of John. In particularly it deals with a few selected passages from the same with a focus on the ethical message they present to us. Even so, it deals specifically with the ethical issues of love. Consequently, the paper endeavours to show us how this ethical theme addressed in this book is important for the society we live in today.
Undeniably, love is one of the most talked about subject in our society; it is a subject of interest virtually among people of all ages. Notwithstanding, the subject bears a different meaning to different people depending on their social background and understanding.
Indeed, our society has defined and even shaped most people’s understanding in relation to this area under discussion. As a result, to many people, love is very sentimental, very sloppy and to an extent just a feeling. However, in Christianity and especially in the light of the Holy Scriptures; love without question is a very critical subject – it is the epicentre of virtually all of the Christian ethics that exists today.
It is therefore important, that this papers main focus is on a selected sections of the fourth gospels (John’s gospel) that particularly deals with love; albeit, with an objective of drawling out the ethical importance of the same to our society in which we live in today.
God’s LOVE
Unquestionably; no one familiar with the Holy Scriptures can deny the fact that the most prominent ethical subject they present to us is that of love. Setting our focus on the New Testament; it is indeed above all, an account about love — ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son..... (See John 3:16).’
This love was his love for the undeserving sinners without exception. In other words, God’s love for the world was not conditioned by the fallen human nature. Otherwise if it was; humanity did not deserve it but instead, deserved death which is the just wages of their sinfulness. In fact Paul said, ‘for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Romans 6:23)
God is holy and just; as such, he cannot participate in sin nor can sin be found in him. More so, sin cannot stand in his presence – it must be judged and punished accordingly; in this case, by death which is its rightful wages. Thus, we can rightfully say that the basis for God’s love towards us solely rests not in us but in him. In his epistle, John states that, ‘This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.’ (1 John 4:10) (SIV)
Our love for God and fellow brothers and sisters
Even so, having stated above that we did not love God, but that he loved us; we are able on the basis of our knowledge that he loved us, to love him back. 1John 4:19 say, that ‘We love him, because he first loved us.’ However, our love for him is demonstrated by our belief in Jesus and our subsequent obedience to his commandments.
In John 13:34 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.’ Jesus’ assertion is very significant and has to be taken with all seriousness it deserves.
According to Houlden, ‘Love one another’ is the only moral rule given by John[1].’ Undeniably, reading through this gospel; we hardly can determine what commandments other than ‘love one another’ Jesus expected his disciple to keep. Even so, Houlden says that, ‘it is more likely that “keeping my commands” has the general sense of “obeying me”, “doing what I say”’[2].
Nevertheless, of great import is the quality of love with which Jesus expected them to love one another; to paraphrase Jesus’ assertion, he said, ‘as I (Jesus) have loved you; the same way, you also have to love one another.’
Jesus’ attention was to his disciples and by commanding them to love one another; the command carries with it the idea of reciprocity. Thus, the disciples were obliged to demonstrate love amongst them and by so doing; everyone would recognize them as his disciples (See John 13:35).
Jan Gabriël Van der Watt and Francois Stephanus Malan says in regards to the command ‘love one another’ that, ‘it expresses an egalitarian relationship expecting common reciprocation within a particular group (e.g. families or friends), implying social interdependence in each particular group[3].’
Even so, the same kind of love should be demonstrated among Christian believers in today’s society especially within a local church. Hays, says that ‘in this context, the distinctive Johannine appeal for love within the church is a poignant cry for solidarity.[4]’
Indeed the above is true in that, in John 17:11 Jesus prayed, ‘..... Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. And in v. 21 he said, ‘That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.’ Clearly, there exists a strong solidarity between the Father and the Son; the same Jesus desired and even prayed that should be amongst his disciples.
Consequently, with the above in mind; the solidarity of the disciples was of paramount importance to Jesus and the same remains to date. In fact, anyone who has observed with great interest can agree that sadly, the Christian church lacks solidarity in so many aspects. Specifically when we consider the different denominations around; notwithstanding, even within the same denominations, most believers have no sense of solidarity. Nevertheless, this can be achieved but only through wilful obedience to Jesus’ commandments; especially through loving one another with the same measure of love as he. In other words our love should be modelled after the love of the Father and Jesus. Nonetheless, we should bear in mind that the foundation of the Father’s as well as Jesus’ love is not emotional; definitely, the same should be the case with our love for one another. Our love should not be based on emotions ‘but well relationships that are expressed in actions.[5]’ True love, we may well assert exists in activities that seek the well being of others; or a life lived for others and not oneself.
Van der Watt and Malan say that:
The Johannine ethics of love stands and falls solely on God having demonstrated his love by sending and sacrificing his son. When Jesus loves intensely he washes feet and gives his life for his friends (John 13:1ff; 15:9ff.); when believers love they follow the example of Jesus of serving and caring, even if it means shifting their own interests aside in order to serve God and others (John 13:12-20; 12:24-26)[6]
The above is absolutely true, godly ‘love seeks the welfare of its object. The purest love desires the highest good of its beloved.’[7] This was evidenced by God’s love toward the condemned and depraved world; for it, ‘it means redemption and rescue from its perilous position and degraded condition[8].’
Therefore, love is unambiguously critical and no one can claim to love God while on the other hand fail to demonstrate the same towards others. 1John 4:20-21 says, ‘if a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.’ Explicitly, our love for God and one another is inextricably intertwined – one is without the other. This love that the scriptures are so keen about can be achieved by living our lives for others. Unquestionably, the heart of the gospel as well as that of Christianity is love (I John 4:10-11). ‘Love summarizes in one word the Christian ethics. It is noteworthy that the New Testament writers demonstrate the ethical authority of love by reference to the Old Testament law.’[9]
Without doubt, love is so important; it has its ethical pre-eminence and its dictates ought to be respected especially in the light of God’s as well as Jesus’ love towards us. In addition, the fourth gospel as well as virtually the entire scriptures present love in a manner that makes it extremely indispensable as an authoritative standard for living. This is perfectly so because it communicates the essence of what the demands of the law are.
Bahnsen states that, ‘the assumption of the New Testament writers and the development of their thought, is that God's law is morally authoritative; because love expresses and follows that law, love too is a fitting standard of moral guidance. The foundational authority of love cannot be isolated from the law of God[10].’
Conclusion
Indeed, love is of paramount ethical importance in Christianity today just as it was during Jesus’ days on earth; it is the nature of God and cannot be washed away – it communicates the essence of what the demands of the law are and by it all Christian ethics can be summed.
It is also unambiguous; no one can claim to love God whilst harbouring hate towards fellow brothers or sisters. God demonstrated his love by giving and sacrificing his only son for the sake of the sinful world; on the other hand, Jesus demonstrated his love by washing and laying down his own life for his disciples. The disciples were commanded and even expected to demonstrate their love for one another by emulating the ensample of Jesus – laying down their lives for others. With all certitude, this is what the commandment ‘Love one another as I have loved you’ entails.
Consequently, just as Jesus’ commandment had a great bearing in the lives of his disciples; it has the same in our today’s society. In fact, should all Christian believers live in wilful obedience to this commandment in its entirety; then and only then can others (the world) know that we are Jesus’ disciples indeed. In addition, the church would be so distinct from the world.
It was and still is the desire of Jesus that his followers should continually be in solidarity Just as he and the Father are in a perpetual union. In other words, our love should be modelled after the love of the Father and Jesus. Even so, we should bear in mind that the foundation of the Father’s as well as Jesus’ love is not emotional; without doubt, the same should be the case with our love for one another. Our love should not be based on emotions ‘but well relationships that are expressed in actions[11]’that seek the welfare of others.
[1] J. L. Houlden: Ethics and the New Testament(London; UK: T&T Clark, 1992), 36
[2] Houlden: Ethics, 36
[3] Jan Gabriël Van der Watt & Francois Stephanus Malan: Identity, ethics & ethos in the New Testament(Berlin: Germany; Walter de Gruyter, 2006), 116
[4] Richard B. Hays: The Moral Vision of the New Testament; A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics (London; UK: T&T Clark, 1996), 147
[5] Van der Watt & Malan: Identity, ethics & ethos, 116
[6] Van der Watt & Malan: Identity, ethics & ethos, 116
[7] John Whitelaw: Commentary on John (Grand Rapid, MI; USA: Kregel Publications, 1993), 77-78
[8] Whitelaw: Commentary on John, 77-78
[9] Greg L. Bahnsen: By this standard; the authority of God’s law today(Powder Springs; GA: USA; Covenant Media Press, 2008),83
[10] Bahnsen: By this standard: By this standard, 83
[11] Van der Watt & Malan: Identity, ethics & ethos, 116
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