约翰福音第十五章第12—17节耶稣说我们若遵行他的命令，就是他的朋友了。耶稣称我们为他的朋友，他说没有比为朋友舍命的爱心更大的。是啊，我们作为耶稣的朋友，耶稣为我们舍命死在十字架上，担当了我们的罪，赐给了我们永生，有什么样的爱能比得上这个大呢？耶稣把从父那里所听见的，已经都告诉我们了，拣选了我们，并且分派我们去结果子（见加5：22—23），他说我们的果子应该常存。
约15:12 你们要彼此相爱、像我爱你们一样、这就是我的命令。
"This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.
约15:13 人为朋友舍命、人的爱心没有比这个大的。
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
约15:14 你们若遵行我所吩咐的、就是我的朋友了。
You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.
约15:15 以后我不再称你们为仆人．因仆人不知道主人所作的事．我乃称你们为朋友．因我从我父所听见的、已经都告诉你们了。
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
约15:16 不是你们拣选了我、是我拣选了你们、并且分派你们去结果子、叫你们的果子常存．使你们奉我的名、无论向父求甚么、他就赐给你们。
You didn't choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
约15:17 我这样吩咐你们、是要叫你们彼此相爱。
"I command these things to you, that you may love one another.
