It doesn’t come easily for me to call Jesus “friend.” It seems trite or shallow or maybe even like it’s dishonoring Him. But then I encounter verses like John 15:15 where it says, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” He has called me friend. He has called you friend, if you believe in him. This is no shallow, trite, flippant thing. It is glorious, and Jesus fulfills everything the Bible says a friend should be!
When Jesus claims us as friends, he isn’t laying down his glory or authority. He isn’t stepping down from being King of the universe. No, he is inviting us into his glory–that’s what “all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” means.
We now have the richest friend who loves to share his wealth. He needs nothing from us so he doesn’t ask us to contribute, but simply to enjoy and revel in this friendship.
We have the most powerful friend who wields his power for good and on our behalf.
We have a sinless friend who will never fail us or betray us.
He has already proven his love and made the ultimate sacrifice, so we have every reason to trust him.
He is eternal and unchanging, so when he makes a promise he will keep it.
I may struggle to call Jesus my friend, but that is because of my failings, not his. He has called me friend along with everyone else who loves and follows him, and it is no embarrassment or struggle for him at all. He is glad to do it.
I originally wrote this post for my church, Immanuel Nashville, in our Daily Pulse email. If you want encouragement from God’s word delivered Monday thru Friday to your inbox, I encourage you to subscribe.
