In this article we’ll look at the commands of Jesus in the Gospel According to John.

John focuses on Jesus and presents his gospel with the aim of having people believe through his personal testimony. It is an evangelistic gospel. John describes himself as the one whom Jesus loved, the one who leaned on Jesus’ breast at the last supper. (John 21:20)

John’s is a very personal testimony. He also wrote, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Revelation. In 1 John he opens by saying Jesus was the One whom they saw and handled. (1 John 1:1)

John is very selective with his gospel, as is the case with the commands of Jesus. Here they are:

John 6:27 “Do not labour for food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

John 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

John 15:9 “As the Father loved Me,  I also have loved you; abide in My love.

John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

John 15:17 “These things I command you, that you love one another.”

John presents Jesus as Lord, whose ‘commands’ are to be obeyed.

For the believer nothing can be more comforting than obeying His commands – take for example John 15:4 to abide in Him. He also says we are to abide in His love (John 15:9). The same verse affirms He loves His disciples. What more can a person desire than the love of Jesus?

Believers are truly blessed!