Thank you my dear friend for this very good question. The verse to which you refer is found in John 14:15 where we read: “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” These tender words are part of our Lord’s final discourse with His disciples prior to going to the cross to die for sinners, which is the greatest possible demonstration of God’s love for a lost and ruined mankind, (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10). Now, in answer to your question, I believe that the Lord Jesus was speaking here of not just one or a few commandments, but of all the teachings of the Lord Jesus which we find in the Scriptures. In the MacDonald Bible Commentary on John 14:15 we read: “The Lord Jesus was about to leave His disciples, and they would be filled with sorrow. How would they be able to express their love to Him? The answer was by keeping His commandments. Not by tears, but by obedience. The commandments of the Lord are the instructions which He has given us in the Gospels, as well as the rest of the NT. “

To expand further on this theme, the Gospel of John presents the entire communication of our Lord Jesus to His disciples, recorded for us in John chapters 13-17. I often think of this discourse as the Lord Jesus’s parting words of love prior to His crucifixion, directed to those He loved so much…His children. The words found there are both comforting and instructive not only for His disciples, but for all true believers, showing His amazing love for His own, and preparing the disciples (and all Christians) for our walk in this world after the resurrection and ascension of the Lord to the right hand of the Father. These words are so essential for us who believe because we are to remain in this scene, walking in faith in Christ for our sure hope of glory until He comes again to take us home to be with Himself.

Chapter 14 begins with some of the most comforting words possible for those about to witness the cruel death on the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, lest they might be confused and disheartened by the awful scene at Calvary that they were about to witness regarding this One upon whom they had placed all their hopes.

In John 14:1, we read: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.” Jesus was reassuring them that He and the Father are One, and being One with the Father, I believe, confirms to us that Jesus is indeed Emmanuel, God with us. This is the foundational truth for Christians, that Jesus is God, and were it not so, His death on the cross would not afford any comfort to Christians. Thus, His words in their entirety are the Words of God, and these are to be believed and obeyed by those who truly love Him. In John 1:1 we read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We read further in John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Thus, we see that Jesus is the very Word of God, and so His teachings and His commandments are to be obeyed in faith in their totality.

In John 14:23-24 we read, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Just think of this-those who love the Lord Jesus and trust in Him will have a very special personal relationship with the Lord! Furthermore, we also see the promise of the third Person of the Trinity in the promise of the Holy Spirit: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you,” (John 14:26). Those who truly love the Lord Jesus, true Christians, receive the Holy Spirit in their hearts to help them along their way in this life.

Now, I hope you realize that our Christian faith is not just a set of rules, but rather it is a personal relationship with God. We are not saved by following a set of rules, but rather by faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). And yet, if we truly love our Lord Jesus, we will want to please Him by walking in obedience to His Word. If we love someone, we will not want to hurt them or displease them. And so it is with our Lord Jesus Christ. If we truly love Him, we will want to walk in this world in a manner that is pleasing to Him, and that is a testimony of our faith to others in the world.

In summary, the words of our Lord Jesus, in their totality, are spoken to comfort and encourage Christians, because His words are the very Word of God. His Word is supremely good for our souls (Matthew 7:24-25), and we show our love for the Lord Jesus and our faith in Him by obedience to His Word, that we might have a godly and happy life in Him while sojourning in a fallen world. True believers on the Lord Jesus receive the Holy Spirit the moment they are saved, and His Spirit will comfort and help us to grow in Him while on this journey.

I pray that you are a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, the one and only Son of God, and if you are, then you are saved, and the Bible is full of precious promises for you including the sure hope that you will be with the Lord Jesus forever when you pass from this world (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). May the Word of God, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, instruct you and give you much comfort and joy, come what may in this life.  (SF)  (548.6)