Friendship

Friendship

The greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.

John 15:13

What kind of a friend was Jesus? Several years ago I worked my way through the Gospels to find an answer to that question. Here are some of my discoveries:

1. Jesus took initiative—he called out to Peter and Andrew.
2. He spent time (lots of it) with those he taught. And he talked about the really important things in life.
3. He reached out and touched the man with leprosy, showing his compassion.
4. Jesus associated with sinners. When the Pharisees asked him about this, he explained that it’s not the healthy who need a doctor—it’s the sick people.
5. He was honest with his friends and separated himself from false flattery.
6. He was protective of people’s souls, not of things.
7. He served his friends, leaving them an example by washing their feet.
8. He prayed for his friends, that they would be united as he and the Father are, that they would be kept from Satan’s power, and that they would be made pure and holy through the Word. This is a great model of how to pray for our children and their friends.
9. He was selfless; he ultimately sacrificed his lifeblood for sinners—for us.
10. Jesus selected friends carefully. He did not choose people who pretended to be good when they weren’t, or people who were so obsessed with detailed regulations that they lost sight of justice and the love of God. While he still loved these people, he didn’t turn to them for companionship.

What a great example of friendship Jesus left for all of us!

Father,

Thank you that you are the best friend we could ever have. Thanks that you call us your friends if we obey you. Please help us to be a good friend. Amen.