John 15:12-14 says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.” The two prominent qualities so far describing the relationship between the vine (Jesus) and branches (us) are love and joy. A great relationship has them as centerpieces. Jesus now says that the branches are to “love one another” as he loves us. This goes far beyond merely loving “your neighbor as yourself,” as hard as that is. This is agape love– intense, focused and sacrificial: “Greater love” like this means to “lay down one’s life for his friends.” That’s what Jesus did for us and why. He loves his friends (us) if we obey him. How are we doing in the love-them-like-Jesus department?