What A Friend We Have
“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.” John 15:15
Insight
Friends are game changers in this life. So much beauty, excitement and growth come from having solid friends. But there’s a trial season to eventually get to friendship. Now, if you knew me, you would know that once I say hello to you, you are considered my friend. But the usual progression is something like this: stranger to acquaintance to friend and, with enough time and energy, perhaps best friend.
This progression of friendship can be fun and sometimes it can be tough. It can be argued that you are not truly friends with someone until the friendship has been tested. If you have been friends with someone for three years, and one riff destroys that relationship, you were not as good as friends as you might have thought. Tough moments and seasons should strengthen relationships if they are true, not destroy them.
I imagine this is what led to Jesus’ new labels for His disciples. In our verse today we see that the disciples had their relationship with Jesus upgraded. Now, Jesus never blatantly called the disciples His servants, they sort of just adopted that role. Since they walked with Jesus, when He asked them to do something, they did it. Also, in the greater context of their call to follow Jesus, He always reinforced to people that they serve one another. Being a servant was a call and a way of life for Jesus, and those who followed Him took on the same attitude.
But Jesus wanted the disciples to know the depth of care and love He had for them, so He called them friends; and that changed everything. Just as everything changed for the disciples when Jesus called them friends, everything changes for us too when we realize we are friends of Jesus.
A true friend cares and is patient with you. A friend challenges you, encourages you, cries with you, and celebrates with you. A friend sees the worst and sticks around. A friend sacrifices in a way that helps you have a better life. All these reasons and more explains why Jesus wanted the disciples and us to know that we are His friends.
Jesus is the friend that does not hold back. Jesus is the friend who goes above and beyond for you. Jesus is the friend who draws out the darkness and shows His light. Jesus is the friend who cries with you in the valleys and celebrates with you on the mountaintop. Ultimately, Jesus is the friend who fulfilled the greatest level of friendship by laying down His life (John 15:13).
Jesus does not sit on a throne as Master bossing around servants, instead, Jesus came down to give us intimate friendship. What a friend we have in Jesus!
Reflection
Are you allowing the friendship of Jesus to shape your life?
Consider the influence your own friends have. What would happen to your life if Jesus could have that same influence?
Prayer
Father, thank you for Your friendship. I am thankful that the King of kings and Lord of lords would have a friendship with me. May Your friendship influence my life. Let my friendship with You be a light to those who do not have the same friendship. I love You Father, and pray in Your awesome name, amen.
Port City writer Davy Nance wrote today’s devotional.
