To “have” Christ’s commands is an unusual expression and is without parallel in the Bible with the possible exception of (1 John 4:21). The meaning of this phrase seems to be to make His commands one’s own by taking them into one’s inner being. Note that Jesus also speaks of obeying His commands. It is not enough to just have them; one must also do them. Augustine describes the man who lives this verse as one “who hath them orally, and keepeth them morally.” (qt’d in Morris)

1 John 4:21  And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Obedience is again spoken of as the mark of true love. If this is so, and it is, then why is obedience not a mark of true love of God for us? If He loves us, won’t He always do what we say? He would if the relationship between us were one of 2 equals, but it is not. It is a relationship of a Father and a child, or a Master and a slave. If the roles were reversed, then it would indeed be the mark of his love for us, but the roles are not reversed and obedience has nothing to do with His love for us. Since obedience is not the mark of true love of God for us, then what is? He tells us quite plainly in (1John 4:10). If love is real, it will always be revealed by deeds.

1 John 4:10  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Notice that the Father is not indifferent to the attitude men take toward the Son. As Morris points out, “This does not mean that He hands out rewards on the basis of merit. It means rather that love calls to love.” What do you think this beautiful phrase “love calls to love” means?

“show myself to him” = (Acts 10:40; Romans 10:20). “The Unseen and Risen Christ will be a real and spiritual Presence to the obedient and loving believer.” (RWP)

Acts 10:40  but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

Romans 10:20  And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”

Do you want to see Jesus? Is it your desire to have Him show Himself to you in a real, though not necessarily physical, way? Jesus tells us in this verse how to do that and it, like so many other things in Christianity, is so simple. If you want to see Jesus, all you have to do is love Him. Again, if you love Jesus, He will show Himself to you.