Jesus, Friend Of Sinners
I think we can all agree that friendships are so incredibly special and something to be cherished. What’s even more special is the fact that our righteous, holy, and mighty God wants a friendship with us. He created us for this. He doesn’t want us to just know about Him, but to know Him and experience the richnesses of His friendship.
But what does it mean to delight in Him as our truest friend, and how do we experience such a friendship?
Take a moment to read these verses in John… meditate, journal, and reflect.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does 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. 16 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. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
John 15:12-17
Jesus is speaking to His disciples in this chapter of John. He gathered them up on the night before His death and prepared them for the next day and life after. He says “no longer do I call you servants,” which is a huge honor in the first place, yet He takes it one step further. He goes on to call them His friends. He invites His followers into a genuine and special friendship with Himself. We know this to be true because in John 14:26, Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you,” ensuring that all future disciples would hear these words and know of this friendship.
He demonstrated selflessness and genuine friendship by giving up His life on the cross for sinners like you and me. If we look back to John 15:13, he defined this kind of loving friendship: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” He did just that. He laid down his life for his friends—displaying the greatest love to all mankind.
I feel confident that we have all experienced the great joy of friendships, but also the friendships that are hard, draining, and at times, painful. This is the result of our human nature and our inability to be perfect friends to one another. Time after time, we fall short, we hurt feelings, and we disappoint. It is hard to love someone who has hurt you, but lay down you life for them?? That seems impossible, yet Jesus did that for us. He welcomes us with open arms, is the perfect friend, never hurts us, never falls short, and laid down His life, so we could walk in freedom. What a beautiful and undeserving friendship this is! There is nothing that could compare to such a friend we have in Him.
How are we supposed to experience and maintain this friendship?
Imagine having a “best friend” that you rant and rave about, show off, and believe wholeheartedly is your best friend, but you never talk to them. That doesn’t make much sense, does it? Well, the same goes for our relationship with Jesus. Relationships thrive with communication. This means praying, thanking Him, confessing our sins to Him, sharing our burdens with Him, listening to Him, and allowing Him to see the deepest parts of our being. It means relating with Him as friends do.
What should our response be to King Jesus as our friend?
We are to be obedient and reverently exalt Him. If we are constantly reminded that our dearest friend died for our sins, shouldn’t it grieve us when we go against His commands? I pray our hearts would be postured in a way that is so in love with this friendship that we can’t help but honor Him with our lives. May we glorify and exalt our King Jesus, the Savior of our souls, and the friend none of us deserve. Let’s respond to this friendship like Jonathan responded to David as his friend: “Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Whatever you say, I will do for you’” 1 Samuel 20:4. I pray we would devote our lives to serving Jesus in this way.
“Whatever You say, I will do for You.”
Reflection Question(s): Do you view Jesus as your friend? Why or why not? Spend some time in prayer, and talk to Him like the wise a gracious friend He is.
“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18
Today’s Worship Song: Jesus, Friend of Sinners — Casting Crowns
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY6VAy9y_iQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2ex0hGTbxQBBmKEpPwzxOt?si=bckD4k4HTmq1eOlmlTFN_A
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/jesus-friend-of-sinners/470669414?i=470669424
Please continue to send prayer requests my way! If you have any questions about what you read today, or just want to chat, my email is: blrich1399@gmail.com
With Love,
Brooke
