Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s recognize the fact that a friend knows.

In today’s scripture, John 15:15 (NIV), Jesus said…
[15] I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Consider…
Psalmist Israel Houghton sings a song that declares…

… I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend

We ascribe many relationship titles to God…

• Creator
• Father
• Provider
• Lord
• Savior
• Master

…to name a few.

Yet as wonderful as all of those relationship descriptions are, one of my favorite descriptions of God is friend.

In today’s verse Jesus said that we are no longer called servants but instead He calls us friends.

Many of us have had work relationships that have morphed beyond the transactional interactions required to get the job done.

For example, although it’s not a work example, I had a ministry relationship with some brothers-in-Christ, and my sister Tambria. This band of brothers, under our sister’s direction, was known as the Men In Worship chorus. We rehearsed, sang at church, and even had opportunities to minister at events outside of church. Our time together was truly a blessing. Yet, there was one individual who made an extra special connection with me. I have referred to my bro-end Tony in other posts, so I won’t rehash how special he is to me. But I will say that singing together became more special and exciting, because as he would say, “I get to sing with my boy”!

That’s the same vibe I get from Jesus’ words in today’s scripture. I hear Jesus saying to His disciples, you’re more than just my followers, you’re my boys!

When I think of Jesus’ boys, I envision Peter, James and John standing front and center. Like in Mark 5:37 (NIV), when Jesus went to resurrect Jarius’ daughter scripture says…
[37] He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.

Or in Matthew 17:1-2 (NIV) where…
[1] After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. [2] There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

And then there’s the monumental moment for Jesus on His way to Calvary. Mark 14:32-34 (NIV) shares…
[32] They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” [33] He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. [34] “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

When I read Jesus’ words I notice He shares His deepest anguish with the same three friends I mentioned earlier. Jesus trusted His most vulnerable thoughts with those who knew Him best.

John, who is the author of today’s verse, also transcribed Jesus’ words that led to His friendship declaration.

In John 15:13 (NIV), Jesus said…
[13] Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Those verses always trigger a memory of my church choir singing…

For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son.
The Son gave His life for me,
when He died on Calvary.

There is no greater love,
no love nowhere, no greater love;
than a man would lay down
His life for a friend,
For a friend

There is no greater love,
there is no greater love,
there is no greater love,
no greater love.

No greater love,

than a man would lay down
His life for a friend. For a friend

No greater love,
no greater love,
no greater love,
no greater love.

Wow! There’s no greater love than a man who would lay down His life for a friend.

But John 15:14 (NIV) provides a key caveat to friendship with Jesus. Jesus explains…
[14] You are my friends if you do what I command.

That means friends know and fulfill friend expectations. You see I know Tony’s boundaries and he knows mine. As friends we operate within the known boundaries, not out of fear but out of love and respect for one another and a desire to please, support and strengthen each other.

Still, I am trying to wrap my mind around Jesus saying that there’s no greater love than a man would lay down his life for a friend.

Jesus’ statement is especially perplexing when I read Romans 5:6-8 (NIV), which says…
[6] You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Wait a minute, Jesus said that He calls those that He laid down His life for friends, and in the verse above it says that He died for us while we were yet sinners. There’s no way that Jesus could be a friend to a sinner.

But then I read Luke 15:1-2 (NIV)…
[1] Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. [2] But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Remember Jesus’ close friend Peter that I mentioned above? Well we know that Peter was a cursing, uncouth, impetuous, betraying guy, whom Jesus recognized routinely as His most trusted leader.

Matthew 16:15-18 (NIV) comes to mind…
[15] “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” [16] Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” [17] Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

And Luke 22:31-32 (NIV) also supports my assessment…
[31] “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. [32] But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter and the sinner scum that the religious leaders pointed out are important to us. The reason they’re important is because they show us that Jesus doesn’t choose worthy friends, instead He calls the people who choose to know Him friends, and makes them worthy.

I am also struck by Jesus saying that we’re friends because He has shared everything He knew from the Father with us. Again, how can this be? Then the Holy Spirit reminded me that everything that Jesus knew had been shared in what we affectionately call the Bible!

I believe everytime we read and study God’s Word, He says there’s my friend discovering more of me!

The Holy Spirit showed me James 2:23 (NIV) to illustrate my belief…
[23] And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

When we believe and obey God, He calls us friends.

That’s because a friend knows a friend intimately and seeks to please them regularly.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) emphasizes…
[6] And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

That reminds me, my friendship with Tony has grown closer because of the mutual intentionality of spending time with each other and sharing what’s going on and where we’re at in a moment of time. That’s the same intentionality God wants us to have with Him.

I thank God for my bro-end relationship with Tony. However our relationship doesn’t compare to my friendship with God. That’s because the same God who created me and redeemed me called me friend.

Psalms 8:3-6 (NIV) expresses my sentiment more eloquently…
[3] When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, [4] what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? [5] You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. [6] You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:

I encourage you to routinely take moments to run through the list of relationship titles of God in your life. While doing so, make sure that you take extra time to be overwhelmed that He calls you friend!

The more you get to know God, the better friend to Him you become! 🤯

Today’s song is…
You Called Me Friend

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)