DO YOU KNOW THAT, CHRIST JESUS IS OUR BEST FRIEND
Being a friend
(Proverbs 17:17, Luke 10:25-37, John 15:11-17, Romans 16:1-2)
A friend loves at all times. The Bible has much to say about friendship. The Psalms mention friends, friendship, and friendliness often. The Book of Proverbs also speaks of friends. We can read about a friendship in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Think of Proverbs 18:24: A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. This is the friend, the kind of friend, mentioned in Proverbs 17:17 – A friend loves you in the midst of deepest troubles. A friend stands by you in difficult times. Friendship is a covenant. It is a relationship bound up in promises and obligations. It is a relationship of both commitment and action. Friendship is shown in this: undying loyalty, faithfulness to death. It is embodied in steadfast faithfulness and abiding love.
Jesus has performed many miracles, one of the miracles that relate to this topic is the parable of the Good Samaritan is told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke 10:25-37. The compassion and actions of the Samaritan in the parable are surprising. He reflects the lengths to which love will go. He treats the injured man not as an enemy but as a neighbor, as one of his own. You will understand the genuine love from the example of a person he would regard as his enemy. Jesus indicates that a person truly acts as a neighbor through love. Jesus shows how authentic love will seek out, even in the unlikeliest of places, neighbors to receive compassion and care. So, when we get help from a stranger when we are in need, is a real and a true friend to us.
God’s love towards Jesus is so amazing that Jesus had followed all the commands given by God and always remained in his Love. Jesus has shared the same love with us, so by following his commands, we remain in him (John 15:9-13). Jesus says ‘By doing what he commands is an indication that we love him’ in John 15:14-15. Servants obey because they have to. Friends obey because they want to. (If you go to work at a shoe store, you are taught how to fit shoes to people’s feet. But if you are the owner’s son, then you are taught every aspect of the shoe business. And, dear friends, Jesus’ family business is the Kingdom of God). Jesus always treats us as his friend and not servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. But Jesus as a friend to us has shared everything that he had learned from his Father have made known to us.
Jesus’ friends have the privilege of sitting down with the Master and understanding his Kingdom we can see it in John 15:16-17. Yes, he is King, but he is inviting them to share in his Kingdom, to be part of his administration, to “rule and reign with Christ” (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:10; 20:4). Jesus chose 12 disciples as his friends to bear fruit by sharing the word of God to “Accept” Christ “Receive” him and be “Born Again.” The Twelve became the foundation for the Church that mushroomed in the first century and beyond. Jesus showed his ultimate love by laying down his life for those loves. Amazingly, Paul reminds us, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus loved us so much that he died for us; we should also show our Love to one other and follow his teachings to become Jesus’ friend.
Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans, verses 16:1-2 speaks about Sister Phoebe, a notable woman in the church of Cenchreae, she was trusted by Paul to deliver his letter to the Romans. Paul refers to her both as a “servant” or “deacon” (Greek diakonos) and as a helper or patron of many (Greek prostatis) as well as Paul in sharing Jesus’ teachings.
We are all Jesus’ friends, so we get to share in his joy and plans for the future. We get to be a participant in advancing his kingdom. What a wonderful privilege. Please value it!
Thank God for giving us, good friends, let’s introduce them to Jesus Christ.
