Laws and commandments make people cringe. Indeed, Christians see the “Law” with negative lenses.. Similarly, for some people, Christianity is a burdensome system of laws and commandments: “Don't drink!”, “Don't smoke!”, “Don't dance!”, “Don't watch movies (except “The Passion of the Christ” - with a church group, by the way)”, “Be nice to people – even those you don't like” and so on.
For Jews, the Christian “Law” (Torah) is nothing negative nor burdensome, but the loving instruction, guidance and teaching of God for God's beloved. It is the expression of love.
The scripture readings for this Sunday, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, point in the same direction. In the Epistle Reading from 1 John 5:1 -6, the writer notes: “For the love of God is this, that we obey God's commandments. And God's commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world”.
In the Gospel Reading from John 15:9 -17, Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer...but I have called you friends...”
Obedience therefore, is a love relationship not a legal commandment. Jesus' followers obey him because he is a friend, not a taskmaster.
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