JESUS - I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS

The Gospel of John introduces Jesus as the Messiah in chapters 1-12. He presents Himself through teaching, performing miracles, and fulfilling Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. In chapters 13-17, He instructs His disciples for future ministry, and in chapters 18-21, His crucifixion and resurrection affirm Who He is, not only Messiah but God the Son.

This Gospel is a rich book with the purpose announced at the end in John 20:30-31, Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

In John 15:12-17, Jesus made a declaration to His disciples and to us who have received Jesus by faith alone. He told them, I have called you friends. Let’s examine the context of this passage which contains that amazing statement and then see what that means for you and me.

John repeats Jesus’ instructions to the disciples:

Verses 12-13: the centrality of the Christian life is love.

Jesus commands believers to love one anther (12), This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John Hart, The command to love requires a supernatural component to fulfill, requires faith, and is more a choice than an emotion ... Charles Swindoll, The Greek word here is not the fickle eros, or even the heartfelt philia, but agape. Agape often involves deep feeling, but it begins with a decision ... Agape is the kind of love exemplified by God, especially in relationship with His Son. Moreover, the tense of the verb is present, which suggests repeated or ongoing action: "keep loving one another."

Jesus declares that the greatest evidence of love is sacrifice (13) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Note Romans 5:7-8, For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Thomas Constable, He would shortly show them how great it was by making the supreme sacrifice for them. After that they would not only have His command to obey but also His example to follow.

Verses 14-16: Jesus' relationship to His followers is friendship

Friendship with Jesus demands obedience (14), You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15:10, If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. Charles Swindoll, This statement involves a condition ... this speaks of our intent to pursue His aims by following His instructions ... We are His friends when we support His aims.

Friends of Jesus are instructed in the will of God (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. Galatians 4:7, So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. William Barclay, Jesus called us to be his friends ... It means that no longer do we need to gaze longingly at God from afar; we are not like slaves who have no right whatsoever to enter into the presence of the master; we are not like a crowd whose only glimpse of the king is in the passing on some state occasion. Jesus gave us this intimacy with God, so that he is no longer a distant stranger but our close friend.

Jesus chooses His friends for service (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. William Hendriksen, The ground of God's love for us never lies in us, always in himself ... Grant Osborne, God's choosing of us, is not just to salvation but also to mission. William Hendriksen, He asks God to give whatever is in accordance with his will.

Verse 17: A reminder of the importance of love (17)

Repetition is the key to learning, John 15:17, These things I command you, so that you will love one another. Charles Swindoll, Failing to love one another makes us like the world, which is characterized by hate. There is no middle ground between love and hate; we must choose one or the other.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FRIEND OF JESUS

The meaning of friend in the New Testament: it is from the Greek word, phileo, which means beloved, devoted, a confidant, one who is entrusted with secrets because he is loved and trusted. It is used as a term for Christians in 3 John 15, Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. Anonymous, A friend is one who knows you as you are, understands where you've been, accepts who you've become and still, gently invites you to grow. In John 15:15, Jesus contrasted servant to friend. The servant does not know why he is told to do something. The friend knows because everything is made known to him.

The magnitude of Jesus' friendship with you and me:

• Jesus chose us as friends, John 15:16a, You did not choose me, but I chose you.

• Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins, 1 Corinthians 15:3, For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.

• His payment removed the barrier between heaven and earth, Matthew 27:50-51, And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

• Our friendship is with Jesus Who is God the Son, the Messiah, our Savior and Lord, Isaiah 9:6, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Characteristics of Jesus' friendship:

• He knows us, John 10:14, I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.

• His love for us is sacrificial, Romans 5:8, but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• He is always faithful, 2 Timothy 2:13. if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.

• He knows our temptations, hurts and fears, Hebrews 4:15-16, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

• His grace is sufficient, 2 Corinthians 12:9, ... My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. His commitment to us is forever, John 10:28, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Marks of our friendship with Jesus:

• We are to reverence Him, Psalm 25:14, The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him ...

• We are to pursue holiness, 1 John 1:6, If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

• We are to obey/follow His commands, John 15:14, You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 10:27, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

• We are to love others, John 15:12, This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

• He enables us to do all that He commands us to do, Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

• Jesus is to be our greatest love, Oswald Chambers, The dearest friend on earth is a mere shadow compared with Jesus Christ.

SUMMARY

Friendship with Jesus begins when one places faith in Him alone. Knowing about Jesus is admirable but knowing Him as a friend is supreme. One is intellectual information but the other is having the greatest friend of all.

Intimate friendship with Jesus can be based on four points:

• It starts with obedience: John 15:14, You are my friends if you do what I command you.

• It demands proper motivation: We must move from having to serve to wanting to serve.

• It demands proper attitude: We must enjoy serving Jesus. It becomes a delight not a duty.

• It demands time management: Our priority must be making time for Jesus, His followers and those He came to save.

Charles Spurgeon, Having made Jesus his all, he shall find all in Jesus. What a friend we have in Jesus.