John 15:12–14
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love
has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
Another meaning in the address “Our Father” is a call for every believer to live loving one another as brothers and sisters. The Lord Jesus desires that believers love one another. This is the proof-indicator that we are Jesus’ disciples (John 13:35). According to Jesus, the standard of loving brothers and sisters reaches the level of sacrifice—laying down one’s life for them. In this regard, the question is: do we have the willingness to give our lives for, and because of, our Friend named Jesus Christ?
This means we must be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. As written in 1 John 3:16, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” Laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters means being ready to sacrifice anything for the salvation of those whom God intends to be our brothers. This speaks of the ministry entrusted by the Lord to all believers. If, for the salvation of others, Jesus was willing to die on the cross, then we, too, must do whatever the Lord commands for their salvation.
In this, we see that Jesus not only gives us commands but also gives a concrete example. Therefore, Paul also says in Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” Doing anything for the salvation of others is a tangible act of suffering with Christ. This is the mark of heavenly nobility that will be glorified with Christ: being willing to give up anything for the salvation of others.
Thus, calling the Father with the word “our” carries consequences that must be accepted, namely, having concern for the salvation of others. Who are these fellow humans? They are those who need help. This is the burden of ministry we must fulfill by sacrificing anything we have: all our strength, emotions, time, possessions, even our lives. Therefore, how naive are those who call the Father “our Father” yet do not care for the salvation of other brothers and sisters?
Many people want to become our brothers and sisters, but they ask questions such as “I do not understand salvation” or “My child has no future.” So the question for us now is: Are we willing to be brothers to them? If we call the Father in heaven our Father, then consequences follow: we have brothers and sisters whom we must support. In this, of course, everything must be according to the Lord’s command. Under the Lord’s command, all will be good. But no matter how good a deed is, if done outside the Lord’s command, in the end it will not be good.