9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
14You are my friends if you do what I command.
15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
17This is my command: Love each other.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
I have to admit I never paid particular attention to this passage in the past. What really jumped out at me is the comment that we are Christ's FRIENDS and not just His servants! Even though Christ teaches us to be servants to others (the washing of the disciples' feet), He seems to be letting us know that we are His friends and not just servants. This speaks to me of God's love and the free will he grants us. We can choose who want to be friends with. However, if we were servants to a master, we probably had no other choice in the matter. I'm glad we were given the choice and I'm even gladder that we get to be friends with Christ!