John 15:8-16: a reflection

8“In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. 9Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. 12“This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. 16You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

In his last teaching before his death, Jesus says something astonishing about his relationship to his disciples. No longer do I call you servants, he says, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. And more: You didn't choose me, but I chose you. Christ calls his disciples not servants but friends, sharing with them what the Father has made known to him; and this friendship began not with their choosing him, but with his choosing them. The relationship Christ offers is friendship, and it rests on his choice of us, not ours of him.

Notice the two wonders: Christ calls us friends, and he chose us. He does not call his disciples mere servants, kept at a distance, ignorant of their master's purposes; he calls them friends, sharing with them the things of the Father. Friendship, not mere servitude, is what Christ offers. And this friendship rests on his choice: you didn't choose me, but I chose you. The relationship did not begin with our seeking him, our choosing him; it began with his choosing us, appointing us, drawing us into friendship with himself. The initiative was his; the friendship is his gift, resting on his choice of us. Christ calls us friends, and he is the one who chose.

That is worth resting in, for Christ calls us his friends, and the friendship rests on his choice of us. We can think of our relationship to Christ as distant servitude, or as depending on our having chosen him; but Christ calls us friends, sharing the things of the Father with us, and reminds us that he chose us, not we him. The friendship is his gift, resting on his choice. Do not think of your relationship to Christ as mere distant servitude, or as resting on your own choosing; he calls you friend, and he chose you. Rest in the wonder that Christ calls you his friend and chose you, drawing you into friendship with himself not because you first chose him but because he chose you, as he said, you didn't choose me, but I chose you, and I have called you friends; for the relationship Christ offers is friendship, resting on his own choice of us, and he shares with his friends the things of the Father.

Lord Jesus, in your last teaching before your death, you say something astonishing about your relationship to your disciples. No longer do I call you servants, you say, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does; but I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. And more: you didn't choose me, but I chose you. You call your disciples not servants but friends, sharing with them what the Father has made known to you; and this friendship began not with their choosing you, but with your choosing them. Show me the two wonders: you call us friends, and you chose us. You do not call your disciples mere servants, kept at a distance; you call them friends, sharing with them the things of the Father. Friendship, not mere servitude, is what you offer. And this friendship rests on your choice: you didn't choose me, but I chose you. The relationship did not begin with my seeking you, my choosing you; it began with your choosing me, drawing me into friendship with yourself. The initiative was yours. Let me rest in that, for you call me your friend, and the friendship rests on your choice of me. I can think of my relationship to you as distant servitude, or as depending on my having chosen you; but you call me friend, and remind me that you chose me, not I you. The friendship is your gift. Keep me from thinking of my relationship to you as mere distant servitude, or as resting on my own choosing; you call me friend, and you chose me, Lord. Help me rest in the wonder that you call me your friend and chose me, sharing with me the things of the Father.