John 15:9-17
Jesus calls those who trust in Him, receive His words, and follow Him; His friends. Each of us here today are either now a friend of Jesus or can become a friend of Jesus if we choose to do so. Our opportunity to be a friend of Jesus is made possible to us by Jesus Himself because of His love that extends it to us so we can benefit from it. He calls each of us who enter into a relationship of friendship with Him to love others and be loving towards others as He has shown love to us. Jesus challenges His followers to show love to others as He has shown love to us in being willing to give ourselves to others in a sacrificial way. Jesus sacrificed His life for us in a very literal way. At times some may be called to sacrifice their life for their fellowman in a physical way as many heroes have done in the military or first responders have done or even some regular citizens have done. But for most of us, the way we lay down our lives for our friends or fellowman is by putting aside our desires or preferences in honor to theirs in showing love to them as our friend. This is what a friend does for their friend. We put them before ourselves. This is what Jesus did for us on the cross in paying the debt of our sin that would require eternity in Hell for us, but He took that death for us and the separation from God because of our sin and defeating death to give us His eternal life. Jesus shares with His followers then and now that a friend honors the good and wholesome desires of their friend and calls His friends to obey His commandments for our own benefit in our lives. Jesus also declares that He calls us His friends because of His open, clear, and comprehensive communication of truth with us. We are not merely called servants who are only told what is needed to be done, but we called friends because He has told us all that the Father had told Him to say unto those who trust in Him to be His friend. A friend is open and honest with those he trusts to love and honor them as a true friend. With acquaintances or strangers, we may need to be selective about the information we share with them. But with a true friend, we can trust sensitive information to be kept confidential. There is another truth regarding being a friend that Jesus shares with His disciples then and now. We choose our friends. We are born into our family by no choice of our own, but we can choose who we enter into a friendship relationship with. Jesus chooses us to be His friends by choosing to offer His love to whoever is willing to receive it and they will then be His friend. What a wonderful gift to have true friends and what an amazing gift to have the best friend eternally in Jesus. If you have Jesus as your friend, then you have a benefit with Jesus that no other friend can promise to you. He promises never to leave any of those who enter into this eternal friendship with Him. Our earthly friends have their own responsibilities and cannot be with us all the time, but in a friendship with Jesus, we are never alone. He promises to always be with us, no matter what!