Most people want to have good friends in their life. I’m not talking about the so-called “friends” one accrues on Facebook, many of whom we may not even really know, and many of whom don’t really care one way or another about us. Our heart is seeking a real, true friend to whom we can turn to in both the good and bad times, someone we can share our deepest dreams and secrets with. Many people are fortunate to find a good friend like this, perhaps more than one, however some are not so blessed. In our Scripture reading for today from the Gospel of John we read of the best Friend one could ever have. No one needs to ever go through life all alone, without a friend, if we know this Friend. Let’s take a look at our passage and meet this Friend.
As we look into this Scripture passage we read that Jesus is calling His followers His friends (vs. 13-15). Imagine, the Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, is calling us His friends! How many of us can say we have a good friend who is someone of importance politically or in the business world? Some might, but many don’t. Jesus is God. He is Lord and Master, and would have every right to call us servants. Yet He chooses to call His followers friends.
One thing that many find about some friends is that they can frequently be very fickle. One day they are your best friend, and then for some reason, the next day they have dropped you like a hot potato and want nothing more to do with you. Perhaps they betray a confidence you shared with them. Maybe you trusted them with something, or went into a business partnership with them, and now they have stabbed you in the back. Whatever the reason they are now no longer your friend, your heart is saddened, and perhaps you feel you can no longer trust anyone again.
Jesus is the best friend we could ever have. As our eternal Friend, Jesus accepts us. We know that certainly isn’t the case with so many people. He knows everything about us and accepts us completely. Jesus laid down His life on the cross so we could become acceptable. Sometimes we find that those who say they are our friends are just too busy for us when we have a need. That is never the case with Jesus. He is always available, and will always listen to us. We can always approach Him with any situation. Jesus will walk through all of our trials with us. He promises to never leave or forsake His children (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5).
It is painful when a friend we’ve had for many years turns away from us. That will never happen with Jesus. He has committed Himself to us as a Friend for life. This lasts more than a lifetime. His friendship will last throughout eternity. He is such a friend that He gave His life for us. Not many friends will do that for each other, yet Jesus actually did this while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). One would hope that members of one’s own family would be friends, but again that isn’t always the case, as siblings often turn against one another. Jesus, though, sticks closer than a brother, and will walk by our side through everything (Proverbs 18:24).
Knowing that the God of all creation wants to be our friend should bring us joy (vs. 11). True joy is not dependent upon our circumstances. It comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus. He will help us through all adversities. God’s Word growing in us will produce increasing and lasting joy. A lack of joy in a believer’s life can usually be traced to either a lack of studying God’s Word or to disobedience. When we are close to Jesus, when we have built a relationship together as His friends, we can have His joy.
In closing, I give a few lines from one of my favorite old-time hymns. If you have the chance, read through the whole hymn to help see what a true Friend we have.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!”
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