When Jesus speaks about commandments in John 14, He is not giving a moral lecture. He is preparing His followers for indwelling. He is not tightening the rules—He is unveiling a return. A return to the garden.
Reading Scripture Naturally and Asking God Questions
While reading through the book of John in my morning time with God, I read until something leapt off the page. These nuggets I call Rhemas from God. Rhema is a Greek word translated as “word,” “utterance,” or “saying.” It differs from the Greek word logos, which generally means the written Word of God or Scripture. This is an important distinction because, while reading the logos, I intentionally ask the Lord to reveal His rhemas to me and what is on His heart for me that morning.
This morning I was in John chapter 14 and stopped at verses 19-21:
“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Do We Need to Obey All the Rules to be Loved?
Is Jesus implying that we need to obey all the rules to be loved? He had been teaching me about the New Covenant and what it means to live from the Tree of Life versus the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Those trees represent two covenants. The Old Covenant is between God and man and is based on man’s performance. The New Covenant is between God and Jesus, and we enter into rest because we are in Christ.
The word “commandments” stood out to me and felt out of context in the flow of the text. Why use that word there, and what does it mean in the original Greek language? I thought Jesus was talking about being one with the Father and one with us. He spoke about sending the Helper. Why now swing to a word that felt like performance? That’s when I knew this was what God wanted to talk to me about.
The following is a result of my digging and asking more questions…
What if obedience was never about effort?
When Jesus speaks about commandments in John 14, He is not giving a moral lecture. He is preparing His followers for indwelling. He is not tightening the rules—He is unveiling a return.
A return to union.
A return to indwelling.
A return to the garden way of life.
If we read John 14 carefully, we discover that Jesus is not asking His followers to try harder, but to receive deeper. His words about “keeping His commandments” are spoken in the same breath as His promise of the Helper, His indwelling presence, and our oneness with Him. If the word “commandments” meant “external rules,” it would break the flow and logic of the passage.
This is not Sinai language.
This is Eden restored.
The Commandment That Dwells Within
Jesus says:
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.”
(John 14:21)
The word translated commandments is the Greek ἐντολή (entolē), which means more than an external rule. It carries the sense of something given with purpose, something placed within, something meant to lead to its fulfillment from the inside out.
Even more telling—Jesus says, “He who has My commandment.”
This is possession language.
Indwelling language.
The commandment is not first something you do.
It is Someone you receive.
“Keeping” Without Striving
The word keep in John 14:21 is τηρέω (tēreō), meaning:
- to guard
- to watch over
- to preserve
- to treasure
This mirrors the original call in Eden:
“The Lord God placed the man in the garden of Eden to tend it and keep it.”
(Genesis 2:15)
The Hebrew word shamar does not mean labor under pressure. It means attentive care, protective presence, relational stewardship.
Adam wasn’t placed in Eden to produce life.
Life was already there. He was placed there to steward it through the posture of abiding.
Jesus is restoring this same posture.
From the Tree of Knowledge Back to the Tree of Life
The fall was not about breaking rules—it was about reaching for life apart from God.
The Tree of Knowledge offered:
- self-sourcing
- independence
- wisdom without trust
Jesus reintroduces the Tree of Life—not as an object, but as a Person.
“Abide in Me… apart from Me you can do nothing.”
(John 15:4–5)
Obedience, in the kingdom, is not performance.
It is abiding.
Love is not proven by effort.
Love is revealed by remaining.
The Helper: The Gardener Within
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit not as a supervisor, but as a dwelling presence.
“He will be in you.”
(John 14:17)
The Helper does not help us obey rules.
He helps us guard communion.
He reminds us who we are connected to.
He tends the garden of the heart from the inside.
This is why Scripture can say:
“His commandments are not burdensome.”
(1 John 5:3)
Because they are not external demands—
they are internal life.
You Were Always Meant to Keep the Garden
Jesus did not come to return humanity to moral effort.
He came to restore relational union.
The commandment is Christ within you.
Keeping it is treasuring that life.
Fruit comes naturally when presence is protected.
You are not being asked to strive your way into love.
You are being invited to stay.
Back in the garden.
Back in communion.
Back where life flows freely.
“Abide (Remain) in Me, and I in you.”
(John 15:4)
And that—
that is the commandment that fulfills itself.
Keeping the Garden Within Grounding & Abiding Practice
Take a few minutes after reading to practice ‘Keeping the Garden Within.’ This message is meant to be received, not rushed. It will take about 7-10 minutes. You can do this seated, outdoors, on a walk, or wherever you can find a quiet place.
Step 1: Settle (1–2 minutes)
Place one hand on your heart, one on your belly.
Breathe slowly and say (out loud or silently):
“I receive Your presence.”
Let your body soften. No fixing. No proving.
Step 2: Return (2–3 minutes)
Imagine yourself being placed in a garden — not entering by effort, but being invited there by God.
Hear Him say:
“This is where you belong.”
Notice:
- You are not asked to produce
- You are not rushed
- Life is already growing
Step 3: Keep (2–3 minutes)
Ask gently:
“Holy Spirit, what are You asking me to protect and steward today?”
It may be:
- Rest
- Joy
- Trust
- Stillness
- A sense of belovedness
There is no right answer. Just notice.
Step 4: Abide (1–2 minutes)
Repeat slowly:
“I remain in You.”
“You remain in me.”
Let that be enough.
A closing blessing
May you stop striving where God is inviting you to stay.
May you recognize His commandment as communion.
May you tend the garden not with effort, but with love.
And may the life within you flourish naturally, as God created it to.Blessings as you return to the garden
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Footnote: 1. Text generated with the aid of ChatGPT, January 23, 2026, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com/chat.
In everything you do -eat, play, and love- may it always be Seasoned with Joy!
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