Bonds Of Friendship - Peter, James, And John

He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Mark 14:33-34

A British publication once offered a prize for the best definition of a friend. Among the thousands of responses the periodical received was this winning entry: “A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.”

We all need true friendship. All of us need someone with whom we can share our hopes, our fears, our desires, and our suffering. Even Jesus needed close friends in order to complete his assignment on earth.

Jesus had twelve apostles, men he had chosen to remain with him throughout his earthly ministry. Among these men that he called friends, three in particular enjoyed a special bond with Jesus. Peter and the brothers James and John were in the Lord’s inner circle as his very closest friends. Jesus allowed them to see and hear things not available to the others.

This trio alone was present at the Transfiguration when Jesus revealed his glory to them (see Matthew 17:1-9). They were the only disciples there when he raised the daughter of a synagogue leader from the dead (see Mark 5:37-42). They accompanied Jesus as he faced his night of anguish and pain in the garden of Gethsemane (see Mark 14:32-34).

After Jesus’ return to heaven, Peter and John established a far more amazing legacy of service than the rest. Peter founded and led the fledgling church in Jerusalem and wrote the epistles bearing his name. John, who lived the longest of the twelve, wrote the fourth Gospel, three epistles, and the book of Revelation.

Peter, James, and John were ordinary fishermen when they first met Jesus, but because they enjoyed such a special friendship with him, they made the biggest impact for Christ in the world.

The sure path to receiving the very best God has for you, and to making the biggest impact on your world for him, is to cultivate a friendship with Jesus Christ. Then love will motivate you to obey him.