What are Jesus' Commandments anyway?

Ok, this has been a work in progress but here it is in some version of a final form.  The formatting isn't quite right yet but it will get there soon.  I preached a sermon this Sunday about Jesus commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.  He says, "if you love me you will follow my commands."  Well I got curious and went through the entire Gospel of John and tried to pull out all of Jesus' commands.  Any time he told anyone to do anything in a command form I wrote it down.  For most of them I tried to include some context.  I think it's a powerful thing to read and perhaps see a pattern in the nature of Jesus' commands.  Also notice what's not on this list?

Here is the list:

ps I may have missed some, let me know if you find any!

1.39 “Come and see.”

This is Jesus first commandment to anyone in the gospel of John.  He tells this to a group of people who are asking where he’s staying and what he’s up to.  I think this is an interesting place to start.

1.43 “follow me”

again, interesting—come and see followed by “follow me”

1.50 “you will see greater things than these.”

 Jesus’ ministry is just getting going and people are getting pretty excited and he says, oh just you wait—we’ve got one heck of a grand finale!

2.7 “fill the Jars with water…now draw some out.”

This is Jesus first miracle in the gospel of John; he turns water into wine at the wedding in Canna. 

2.16 “take these things out of here! Stop making my father’s house a market place!”

Jesus’ temple tantrum.  He’s literally turning the tables and things upside down. 

2.19 “Destroy this temple.  In three days I will raise it again.”

Jesus was talking about his body, not the actual temple—but again wow.

3.7 “You must be born from above.”

Jesus is speaking with Niccodemus, he wonders what he must do.  Jesus offers mysterious advice. 

4.7 to the woman at the well, “give me a drink”. 

Remember the scandal that was, to talk to a Samaritan woman, a stranger, and ask for a drink.  Jesus is breaking the rules, extending grace to people outside the bounds of the establishment.

4.50 “Go your son will live”

 Jesus heals an official’s son, not a Jew, not a Christian, just a guy who asked for help.  Jesus didn’t even go visit this boy, just commanded him to go and his son lived.

5.8 “stand, take your mat and walk.” 

Jesus heals the blind man at the pools of healing—on the Sabbath!  Scandal!

6.10 “make the people sit down”

then he fed them with fish and loaves.

6.12 “gather the fragments that were left over”

so that nothing may be lost!

6.20 “It is I do not be afraid,”

This as Jesus walks on the water towards the boat some of the disciples are in.

6.27 “do not work for the food that perishes, but for food that endures for eternal life, which the son of man will give you.”
After Jesus teaches and feeds the crowds he is left with the disciples and these are his words in private to them.

 6.43 “do not complain amongst yourselves.”

One of my favorites.

 8.7 “let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

I hope just those words raise in you that amazing story of grace, compassion, mercy and forgiveness. 

9.7 “go wash in the pool of Siloam”

again, Jesus heals

11.39 “take away the stone!”

Jesus’ mighty command at the grave of Lazarus!

11.43 “Lazarus, Come OUT!!”

powerful words to a dead man, call him to new life.

11.44 “unbind him, and let him go”

Jesus’ command to the community around Lazarus, you have work to do too in the business of new life!

12.7 “leave her alone.”

Jesus says to the disciples who question Mary’s anointing Jesus’ feet!

13.27 “do quickly what you are going to do.”

Jesus’ words to Judas before he betrays him.

 13.34 “I have given you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
This is really the only time Jesus directly offers a general, straightforward command.  Jesus’ command is to love one another—love so deep—love like Jesus has for us.

14.1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled believe in God, believe also in me.”

John 15.4 Abide in me as I abide in you.

John 15.12 ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

John 18:11 Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword back into its sheath.

John 20:17  Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’

 John 20:27 “Put your finger here and see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it in my side.  Do not doubt but believe.”

John 21:10-13 Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’¹¹So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.¹²Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord.¹³

Jesus meets Thomas, the one who doubted and sets him back to faith and belief. Famous and beautiful story we know well. 

21:6 “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some [fish].”
---So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.

After the resurrection the disciples go fishing…nice work guys…they weren’t catching fish.  Jesus appears to them on the beach, only he’s too far away to recognize.  He gives them a hot fishing tip and they catch more than they can haul in.  Abundance.

21:15 “Feed my lambs”

Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?” yes Lord you know that I do.

21: 16 “Tend my sheep”

Again, Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?” yes Lord you know that I do.

21: 17 “Feed my sheep”

A third time, Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?” yes Lord you know that I do.

21: 19 “Follow me”

This is Jesus final command in the gospel of John.  Jesus is still talking to Peter only now he is indicating the kind of life he is to lead, and the death he will die.  Peter’s life is no longer he own, but now is joined to Christ.