You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants,for the servantdoes not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you. (John 15:14-16)
The hymn is 171 years old, but most Christians today are still familiar with “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”, written by Joseph Scriven. Jesus bears all our sins and shares all our sorrows, so “…take it to the Lord in prayer.” He is our friend as well as our Lord and Savior.
My beloved Christie and I chose 155 years later to call our new ministry “Friends of the King Ministries” based on John 15:14-16. Jesus has revealed to us what the Father revealed to Jesus: a plan to redeem the broken people of this broken world and reconcile all things in heaven and on earth back to God and His Kingdom. (Matthew 6: 9-10; Colossians 1:13-20) Christie and I wanted to share in the pursuit of that vision and, thereby, be friends of Jesus our King.
True friendship with Jesus occurs when you have both: Jesus is our friend and we are also His friend. So, how do we do that?
First, understand the New Testament uses two Greek words for love. “Agape” love is the unconditional, selfless, serving, sacrificial love that God has for everyone and wants us to have for everyone. (John 3:16; Matthew 5:43-48; 1 Corinthians 13). “Philia” love is the affectionate love one can have for your “own people” – family and friends with whom you have significant things in common. You can share both agape and philia love with Jesus.
Second, understand that kings can have friends. The Bible speaks of Hushai the Archite as the “king’s friend” of King David. (1 Chronicles 27:33) Hushai helped rescue David from Absolom’s rebellion. And in the next generation, King Solomon, David’s son, had a “king’s friend” named Zabud, who was the son of Nathan, David’s prophet. Their friendship began when they were children.
Third, understand that God can have friends. Abraham was God’s friend. (James 2:23) Moses met with God as a friend meets with a friend. (Exodus 33:11) Both Enoch and Noah “walked with God” – a strong sign of friendship. (Genesis 5:22, 6:6) And Job experienced a friendship with God before his time of suffering that became even better after his suffering ended. (Job 29:4, 42:10-12)
How did Jesus become our friend? He came down from heaven to share in our humanity, including experiences of temptation, hunger, thirst, and betrayal. (John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:15). He walked in our shoes and then walked into our death so we could live. There can be “no greater love,” no greater friend than that. (John 15:13)
How do we become Jesus’ friend? We start with the two steps Jesus describes in John 15. Learn and embrace what Jesus has revealed about our Father’s plan to redeem humanity and restore God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Then choose to obey the Lord’s commands as His disciples and you will become His friends. (Matthew 28:18-20). Those who both have and keep His commands are the ones who love Him and He reveals Himself to them. (John 14:21-23). The New Testament word for “follow” – akoloutheo” – can mean both “follow” and “accompany,” to wit: walking with Jesus.
If you are not both trusting and obeying Jesus, the Bible says you are not His friend even if He is your friend. So, there can be no true friendship.
Please also understand that friendship with Jesus can extend far beyond a shared vision. All the important attributes of friendship can apply. Our sharing things in common includes the reality that we are created in God’s image and, when born again, have the same eternal Father. Our shared trust and loyalty include both His absolute faithfulness and our freedom to be transparent (the “real me”), knowing grace will be there when our dependability falters. (2 Timothy 2:13)
As friends, we can care about the things Jesus cares about and ask the One who always helps us how we can help Him. Jesus abides in us, and as we abide in Him, we can experience His love for us and our love for Him. (John 15:4-11; 1 John 4:19)
Finally, as friends, we can genuinely enjoy each other – the joy of our salvation and the joy of the Lord! (Psalm 51:12; Nehemiah 8:10; Philippians 4:4) We have the pleasure of the company of the most wonderful Person imaginable, and He is with us always.
God bless you, and God bless our community.