5/7/2024 0 Comments I Call You FriendJohn 15:9-17
Love Each Other https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A9-17&version=CEB Jesus speaks tenderly to his disciples and reveals a profound truth about his relationship with them—and with us. He says, "As the Father loved me, I too loved you. Remain in my love" (John 15:9 CEB). This love, rooted in the very essence of God, is the foundation of our friendship with Jesus. Jesus goes on to say, "You are my friends if you do what I command you" (John 15:14). This statement may initially sound like a condition, but in reality, it reveals the nature of true friendship with Jesus. Friends trust and serve one another out of love, not out of fear or obligation. Jesus wants us to trust and serve him out of love just as we would with our other friends. Jesus further deepens this understanding by saying, "I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15). We see a shift in the disciples’ relationship with Jesus. They go from a servant / master or student / teacher relationship to one that lifts up the disciples to the same level just as the Father and the Son are on the same level. Friendship with Jesus looks similar to the Father’s and Son’s relationship – so close-knit and functioning as one. Similarly, as we mature in our relationship with Christ, there is a shift that draws us even closer on the same level with Christ. We are brought in with the divine to work together as one being of love. Jesus invites us into a relationship of intimacy and trust, where we are no longer mere servants, but friends who share in his divine purpose and mission. The transformative power of God's grace enables us to respond to Jesus' invitation to friendship. Through prayer, worship, and the study of Scripture, we can cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus and allow his love to abide in us and transform us from the inside out. Let us embrace Jesus as our Friend who walks with us, guides us, and shares in our joys and sorrows. May we remain in the love of Christ, and in turn, be faithful friends to Jesus, who obey his commandments and share his love with all whom we meet. For those who are following the lectionary, you may notice this scripture was for last week. I reversed the readings for this week and last week to fit what our church is doing for the current sermon series. I just thought I should explain that to avoid any confusion. Reflection Questions: Do you consider Jesus a friend? How does it make you feel to know Jesus calls you a friend? What does friendship with Jesus look like to you? What does it mean for us to be Christ’s friends today? Action: Do one thing this week that deepens your friendship with Jesus.
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