March 8th, 2026 | Pastor Shaun Jaramillo | The Way of Obedience | The Way Week 2

What if obedience isn't about restriction, but about relationship? This powerful exploration of John 14:15 challenges us to reconsider everything we thought we knew about following Jesus. The verse 'If you love me, obey my commandments' isn't a demanding ultimatum from a distant deity—it's an invitation into deeper intimacy with our Creator. We discover that the Greek word 'tereo' doesn't mean to merely execute orders, but to guard, protect, and treasure something precious. Like a sailor keeping his eye on the North Star not because it's a tyrant, but because it's his way home, we keep God's commandments not out of fear, but because they guide us toward life itself. The message confronts our modern culture's equation of freedom with autonomy, revealing how Adam and Eve's story continues to echo in our own resistance to boundaries. Yet when we understand that obedience is the family trait of the kingdom of God—the way we look like our brother Jesus—everything shifts. We're challenged to identify that one area where Jesus is asking us to take the next step of obedience, whether it's forgiveness, honesty, generosity, or courage. The profound truth emerges: obedience isn't about losing freedom; it's about aligning our lives with the will of God, and love makes that obedience possible.