“What a Friend We Have In Jesus” is a beloved hymn across so many denominations. Perhaps we find it comforting to think of Jesus as friend. Unlike the baggage that may be present for some when we think of family relationships, friendship is a frame of reference that most can relate to in a positive way. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “We can’t choose our family, but we choose our friends.”

You may have many warm thoughts about friends you’ve had along the way…the people who know all about you, maybe even some dark secrets, and still love you anyway. A friend sticks by us through thick and thin. A friend is one we can laugh or cry with. A friend is someone to have fun with as well as someone who cares for you when you need help.

How lovely it is to think about Jesus, our greatest friend, in all those ways.

In John’s Gospel, chapter 15 (one of my favorites in the whole Bible!), Jesus speaks to his disciples about love and friendship and joy. Jesus speaks of how he chose us…chose to befriend us…so that, as he did, we can befriend and share love with others. He speaks of how much he loves us even as he is preparing us for his physical absence. He wants us to hold on to each other’s friendship because he will not be physically available until we meet again in the Kingdom.

Jesus states it so clearly in verse 15: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends…”

When disciples are following a rabbi, they serve that rabbi and they learn to imitate that rabbi. It is a master/servant or teacher/student kind of relationship. And that is true of the disciples’ relationship with Jesus as well…but then Jesus takes it a step further. Jesus does not want to limit His relationship with us to that of a “professional” relationship…Jesus wants to be in a loving, 2-way relationship with us….to be friends that share everything.

Friends that share everything means as it is stated in that last part of verse 15 where Jesus says: “I have called you friends because everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” He has shared openly with the disciples even if they don’t yet understand all of what has been shared. Hopefully they will understand after the resurrection….but even then, as with us now, there is still more to understand when we finally meet Jesus face to face in heaven. Jesus is trying to communicate that it’s all for us…now as much as we can handle, and eventually in its fullness in God’s Kingdom!

What a friend we have in Jesus...indeed!

And in return, Jesus expects us to do the same…make everything known to Him. Wow.

But that also begs the question: What kind of friend does Jesus have in you?

Do you love Jesus as a best friend? Do you share your joys and sorrows, secrets and dreams, failures and accomplishments? Do you care for Him the way He cares for you? Do you give Him your time as He is always present with you? Do you willingly share everything with Hiim? Do you think of Him as the One who has laid down His life for you?…and would you lay down your life for Him? Across history there are certainly those who have laid down their life for Jesus…and many who have not.

I want to believe that I would lay down my life for Jesus…but would I? I hope that I would hold fast to my relationship with Him and never deny Him.

As I get older, I do find myself more readily turning to my friend, Jesus. Perhaps it is the perspective of age, or experience, or the loves and losses and betrayals I have lived along the way that has me ever more leaning into my most important friendship with Him.

This month, in our women’s Spiritual Wellness Community, we will be leaning into our friendship with Jesus, and also reflecting on how we love our neighbor the way Jesus taught us to when we enjoy our earthly friendships with others. We were created to live in community, after all, so friendship is vital to following Jesus and loving as He loved.

Maybe it’s also a good month to re-connect with friends you haven’t spoken to or seen in awhile. Reach out with grace and love them back into your life again, or at least love them a little closer than they have been recently. Maybe it’s a good month to forgive an old friend or say I’m sorry to an old friend.

Let’s focus on being the kind of friend that Jesus is to us….to Jesus…and to our friends.

And maybe…just maybe…our friends will see Jesus in us.

Shalom,

Julie Parsell

Jesus Follower + Retired Pastor + Spiritual Director + Therapeutic Harpist

SEPTEMBER

TOPIC: Friendship

BOOK: Anam Cara by John O’Donahue

SCRIPTURE: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” —John 15:12-13

SPIRITUAL WELLNESS COMMUNITY ZOOM SCHEDULE (note change)

TUES 9/2 12PM ET - Topic introduction

TUES 9/9 12PM ET - Group Spiritual Direction

TUES 9/16 12PM ET - Prayer/Meditation with Harp

MON 9/22 12PM ET - Group Discussion

ATTENTION Ladies! If you want to try out this community of women exploring spirituality together, sign up at angelstringsministry.com

THE FIRST MONTH IS FREE IF YOU WANT TO CHECK IT OUT!!