What a friend we have in Jesus
I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. John 15:9-15
When someone receives Christ in his or her heart, He becomes their Lord and Savior. He frees them from the enslavement of sin and helps them not to be entangled with wickedness. This relationship with Jesus provided His followers access to His Kingdom. This is what the Apostle Peter reminded the believers in Asia Minor. “Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11). But the Lord Jesus Christ does not want us to think of Him just as Lord and Savior. This is what John wrote about from our text. The Lord Jesus Christ wants us to know Him as our friend. Once we understand what we have in Him and that He came also to be our friend then we will realize all the things He provided us as His friends. He accepted us unconditionally even in our sinfulness. Though He is helping us not to remain in our present sinful condition, nevertheless He continues to be patient in what is happening in our spiritual growth. He is there to walk with us in times of difficulties. He is there to encourage us when trying times are upon us. “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5). He makes Himself available to us for He is never busy so He could listen and respond to our prayers. We can share to Him every doubt, worry, and heartache. He is also there to be joyful with us as we share to Him our victories and successes. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16). Not only that He listens to us but He also speaks to us through the Bible. In His Word we find answer to every trial we face and provide us the wisdom we need so we could make decisions in line with His will for our lives. “But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his” (Job 12:13). As you live your life each day, always remember that you have a friend in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
