Jesus and unconditional love
Jesus compares the love with which he has loved his disciples with the love with which the Father has loved him, thus demonstrating the mutual trust they have: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you beloved to you: remain in my love.” This comparison highlights the importance of unconditional love in the relationship between Jesus and his disciples.
The commandments of Jesus
Jesus establishes a condition for the love he offers his disciples: that they observe his commandments. He exhorts them to follow his commandments in the same way that he has fully observed the Father’s commandments: “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I also have fully observed my Father’s commandments and remain in the your love.” Thus, Jesus emphasizes the importance of obedience to the commandments as an expression of love for him.
The commandment of brotherly love
Jesus introduces a new commandment to his disciples: that they love one another, as he has loved them. This commandment of brotherly love is considered by Jesus as essential in the way his disciples should live and relate: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you , that you also may love one another.”
The supreme love of Jesus
Jesus proclaims that there is no greater love than his, as he is willing to sacrifice his life for his friends. This is the greatest expression of the unconditional love that Jesus has for his disciples.
Jesus’ reflection on his death
In the second part of his farewell speech, Jesus reflects on his violent death and expresses his concern to prevent the retaliation of the Romans from falling on his disciples. However, Jesus considers his disciples as friends only if they follow his teachings and bear fruit: “For all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you”, so that your fruit remains.
The importance of brotherly love in the second Gospel of John
In the second Gospel of John, the author repeatedly insists on the theme of brotherly love. This repetition serves to underline the importance that Jesus gave to love between his disciples as a fundamental part of his message.
