1. Structure of the book:
(BKC)
I. The Prologue (1:1–18)
II. Jesus’ Manifestation to the Nation (1:19–12:50)
B. Jesus’ controversy in Jerusalem (chap. 5)
D. Jesus’ return to Jerusalem and the resumption of hostility (7:10–10:42)
F. The plot to kill Jesus (11:45–57)
G. The conclusion of Jesus’ public ministry (12:1–36)
H. Jewish national unbelief (12:37–50)
III. Jesus’ Preparation of His Disciples (chaps. 13–17)
A. The Last Supper (13:1–30)
B. Jesus’ coming departure (13:31–38)
C. Jesus, the Way to the Father (14:1–14)
D. Jesus’ promise of the Counselor (14:15–31)
E. The Vine and the branches (15:1–10)
F. Jesus’ friends (15:11–17)
2. Context:
(BKC) Jesus now instructed His disciples on three vital relationships. Disciples are to be rightly related to Jesus (vv. 1–10), to each other (vv. 11–17), and to the world (vv. 18–16:4). Disciples have three respective duties: to remain (abide), to love each other, and to testify
To remain in Jesus is to remain in His Word and His love v.7,9 and the ramification of remain in His love is to obey His commandment v.10. The first commandment is in v.12 to love one another just as I have loved you (13:34, 14:15, 21)
3. Content:
To follow the commandment is not something without joy, to remain in Jesus is also to be in His joy v.11. What does, "joy may be complete" mean?
It is a repeated phrase in v.11, 16:24, 1 J 1:4. Our joy is not complete until we have Jesus' joy is in us, until our prayer is answered and until we read the Scriptures. Also the voice is "be complete" it is passive. Our joy is made complete by God when God is in our life.
What does love one another mean? v.13 lays down his life for his friends (NET) It is not just the degree or intensity of the disciples’ love for one another that Jesus is referring to when he introduces by comparison his own death on the cross (that they must love one another enough to die for one another) but the very means of expressing that love: It is to express itself in self-sacrifice for one another, sacrifice up to the point of death, which is what Jesus himself did on the cross (cf. 1 John 3:16).
This is the way Jesus loved us. Note Jesus died for his friends. Who are his friends? v.14 if you do what I command you
Is this a change in relationship from disciples to friends? Why? the difference is the width of the knowledge v.15 because the slave does not understand what his master is doing... I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father. However, such knowledge should not puff us up in v.16 (PNTC)
Reflection: Love one another like Jesus did was a high ceiling command, but as a recipient that has enjoyed the benefit of Jesus' love it is not a unreasonable calling. Plus, our joy has no way to be completed unless we have the joy of Jesus, i.e. in obeying the Father and in His love.
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