What A Friend We Have In Jesus

John 15:9-17

Friends - we all want to have some.  This world, and our life, is a very lonely place without any friends.  The desire for friends starts early, as one of the first thing most children do when they begin school is search out friends, particularly a best friend.  There are many people, though, who go through life without many, sometimes even any, friends. Sadly, this is sometimes even the case with Christians. Our Scripture passage today has good news for believers who feel alone and without friends.  Let’s take a look.

Our verses today come from the talk that Jesus had with His eleven apostles after the Last Supper (Judas having departed already to betray Him).  Right in the middle of His discourse Jesus speaks the heart-warming message to us, “I have called you friends” (vs. 15). Jesus is my friend! Imagine that!  The Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, the Creator and Master of the Universe wants to be my friend!

What kind of friend is Jesus?  Many of us have had friends that have failed us, or turned their back on us when we most needed them. Our friends may often be unavailable to us when we so desperately need someone. That is never the case with Jesus.  He is always there for us, just a prayer away.  He will never turn His back on us, but will stick closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).  He knows everything about us, the good, the bad, the ugly, and still loves us and wants to be our friend.   Jesus loved us so much that He laid down His life for us (vs. 13).

How do we become a friend of Jesus?  First, you must have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior.  Then, as we read in verse 14, Jesus says that we are His friends if we do whatever He commands. Obedience to God is important. Many people today think we can act any way we want and do anything we wish, that it’s all okay because Jesus is my buddy.  That’s not what Jesus said. He said we are His friend if we do what He says. Jesus is our Lord and Master, and could rightly call us His servants (vs. 15).  However, Jesus chooses to call us His friends. Because He is Lord and Master we owe Him total obedience.

Why did Jesus choose us to be His friends?  Jesus not only saved us, but He wants us to play an important part in His Kingdom (vs. 16). He created us for a purpose and wants us to fulfill that (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus wants us to bear fruit for Him.  He wishes us to spread the Gospel and make disciples. That is why He chose us.

Our passage has another word of comfort for us.  Sometimes life can beat us down so much, and everything looks gray, or even black. Jesus has promised His children His joy (vs. 11). Believers who are in obedience to God will experience the same joy Jesus did.  God’s joy transcends circumstances. He walks with us through trials, and leaning on Him, we won’t sink into despair. A lack of joy in a Christian’s life can often be traced to a lack of devotional time in God’s Word.  God’s joy will stay with us as we stay in His Word.

Friendship with God and His abiding joy, two wonderful blessings for the children of God.  One of my favorite hymns, and perhaps one of yours as well, goes “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!  What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!” May each of us have His joy and enjoy His friendship each day.