Scripture. John 15: 13-14
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
There are many kinds of friends. There are the friends that we have at work. Since we share time together in the workplace, it is good to be friendly and care for each other. There are friends that we have in our neighborhoods. In a similar way, it is helpful to have a neighborly friendship with those we see in the community. While we may call all of these friends, there is something more.
Though they may be fewer in number, true friends are all together different. True friends are friendly, fun to be around, and may even live in our neighborhood, or be in our workplace. But, they are more. A true friend has a quality that surpasses those of mere acquaintance. Do you know what that quality is? I think you do.
A true friend is willing to make a sacrifice for you. Lighter friendships will only bear with so much sacrifice. Sometimes, hardly any sacrifice at all. Very quickly shallow friendships tire if they are not getting something in return. This is not what we have seen in Jesus.
In the Hymn “What a Friend we have in Jesus” we are immediately met with the line “all our sins and griefs to bear.” What would exhaust human friendship, didn’t exhaust the love of God in His Son. Jesus came to bear our sins and our griefs on the cross. There He removed them from our lives and carried our sorrows. Through faith in Jesus we share in His resurrection from the dead. We have been given eternal life.
Jesus commanded us to think of friendship with each other in the same way. That is how we are called to love one another, by remembering the pattern of our Lord’s life, death, and resurrection. So, Jesus continues,
“You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
What does that mean? Jesus is showing us that friendship with God involves our own sacrifice! We shouldn’t expect that God, who gave His life for us, has given us a faith that is nothing more than a fleeting fair-weather friendship to one another.
God releases us from pride and self-centeredness. He allows us to hear His commands and see the opportunities He lays before us. God calls us turn towards Him in faith and towards one another in Christian Love.
This is the true friendship that Jesus taught His disciples. As we grow in faith, we will hear the prophesy of Jesus fulfilled, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
Let us Pray
Lord I thank you for granting me the gift of faith so that I am truly your friend. Please strengthen me each day in repentance and new life. As you have given your life for me, I offer my life to you by following your commands of Christian love towards my neighbor. In your name I pray. AMEN