Loving Friends

John 15: 9 – 17 / Loving Friends

Intro: Things that make you go, HMMMM! – Why is it a compliment to tell a woman she looks like a breath of spring; but, not to tell her she looks like the end of a hard winter? --- I wonder why it pleases a woman when you say time stands still when you look into her eyes; but, not when you say her face would stop a clock? --- I wonder why people who punish a child for lying will tell the same child, “Just say I’m not home.” --- I wonder why when the preacher says, “In closing…” he doesn’t!” --- I wonder why a speaker who “needs no introduction” gets one anyway.

I. This complicated passage explains the love of God and what that love must do for and with us. It is another of those things that make me go, HMMMMM!

A. Vs. 9 & 10 – Love comes from God to Jesus / from Jesus to us / undeserved / one direction.

B. The command of Jesus isn’t that we love Him; but that we love each other and that will show that we love Him.

C. Student who was rude and disruptive once asked me, “Why are you so nice to me?”

II. Vs. 14 & 15 – You are my friends. Friends love each other.

A. There are friends and then, . . . there are friends. Acquaintance, chum, buddy, colleague, business associate, neighbor. --- There are fair-weather friends who hang around as long as the sun is shining and there’s no hardship. But, REAL friends are those who show up and stay with us when we face trying circumstances AND they stay with us when there is nothing to do but wait!

B. Buddha said, that a friend is one who “guards you when you are not on your guard and does not forsake you in trouble. He even lays down his life for your sake; he restrains you from doing wrong; he enjoins you to do right. He reveals to you the way of heaven.”

C. Jesus is the Pattern: In verse 9 He says to us, “As the Father has love me, so I have loved you. Now, REMAIN in my love.”

III. Three marks of a true friend:

A. They will give and give, their very life.

B. they are frank, unhesitating in opening their heart and mind to another W/O shyness or secretiveness.

C. A true friend trusts and risks. You never doubt their loyalty.

Conclu: There Is No Greater Love, words and music by John W. Peterson

The love of friend and lover is often sweetly sun, But no greater love than the Savior’s love can be told by mortal tongue.

With value more than money Or jewels rich and rare, there is naught on earth of an equal worth; O His love’s beyond compare!

If He had died for angels or seraphim on high, We could understand but amazed we stand that for sinners lost He’d die!

There is no great love than that of Christ above. That made Him stoop to earth, become a man, and by His death provide redemption’s plan; there is no greater love, that’s why I’m singing of God’s love so rich and free, revealed at Calvary. There is no greater love.