A Christian’s love is manifested by their obedience to the Lord’s words. The rewards of loving God are great:

• The Father will show His love to him.
• The Son will love him and show Himself to him.

In the Scripture passage in John 14: 21 we learn that it is not by a “works” a religious thing, but rather that one who believes and obeys Christ’s Word is the one loved by the Lord. Saving faith results in obedience “the obedience that comes from faith,” (Romans 1:5).

We read in John 14: 21 (NKJV) “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.”

The word manifest means: “emphanidzo” (em-fan-is-zoe), Strong’s #1718: A combination of en, “in” and phaino, “to cause to shine” thus, to appear, come to view, reveal, exhibit, make visible, present oneself to the sight of another, be conspicuous.  In John 14: 21, “emphanidzo” is the self revelation of Jesus to believers.  A secondary meaning of the word is to declare, and to make known (Acts 23:15, 22; 24:1; 25:2, 15).

This Scripture Speaks to us about loving God’s Word as Jesus followers. Jesus completely aligned His life and will with the Father’s.  

We read in John 8:29 (NKJV) “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”  This indicates His total allegiance to the Father’s Word and commandments.  Jesus also said He disapproved of any attitude that would reduce respect for or teach less than full obedience to the entirety of God’s revealed Word (Matthew 5:17-19).

Thus in this Scripture text, Jesus explicitly links His disciples love for Him as Savior with their will to keep His commandments.  We thus conclude Jesus clear intent: If we love Him, we will love His Father’s Word, also.

We also read in John 5:39 where our Lord declares that the knowledge of the Scriptures is the pathway to knowing Him well. “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”

Further, upon His resurrection, Jesus unveiled the fullness of His own Person as revealed in the Old and New Testaments. We read in Luke 24:27 (NKJV)  “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.“

These Scriptures develop and teach us this:

To follow Christ, to know Him and to grow in our insight as people walking with our Resurrected Lord, a basic and continuing requirement is a steadfast commitment to hearing, heeding and studying the Bible.  The ongoing invitation in Revelation 22:17 (NKJV) “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”