What A Friend We Have In Jesus

John 15: 9-17

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 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. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Introduction to the message

It's difficult to grasp isn’t it at times … Jesus is Lord and friend?

When I was in management they always advised me never to become friends with the people I managed … but here we have the Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God wanting us to be His friends.

Anyone who tells you that it says nothing about relationship in the bible … ask them what a friendship is? … is that not a relationship … is it not personal?

I think of the words in that song … ‘WHAT A PRIVELIGE’ … indeed what a privilege it is!

But they are not separate … He cannot be friend without Lord or Lord without friend … they come hand in hand!

He is your friend BECAUSE He is your Lord … If you make Him Lord, then you will follow His teachings … if you do this then He WILL call you friend.

I. The Command of Jesus

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

That’s easy isn’t it … or is it?

Who is this command for … His disciples 2000 years ago? Yes

His disciples now? Yes … Who are these … US, HIS church

Nobody has ever left a church because they were loved too much … it is usually because they have been judged or not accepted.

Mother Theresa once said ‘if you spend all your time judging people, there is no time left to love them’.

It’s a command for us Church … all of us!!! Now!!!

Don’t waste your time trying to figure out each others salvation … concentrate on your own walk with God and leave the conviction and judgement up to Him!

His command is simple … ‘love one another’ …

This isn’t the first time He’s told them this command … He’s reinforcing it …

John 13:34-45:

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Jesus knows all my failings and yet He loves me. If He can do it for me, then surely it;s easier for me to love others.

II. The Comfort of Jesus

11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

How many of you get joy from being judged?

How many of you get joy being condemned?

What Jesus has for you is LOVE … ‘I did not come to condemn’

Do you want to be a part of that Love? … have you responded to His message … Is Jesus your Lord and Saviour? … Want to talk about it, come see me later and we can have a chat about receiving this gift.

What does Jesus want … He wants to call us friend … what????? The King of Kings and Lord of Lords wants to call you friend!!!!

He says ‘You are my friends if you do what I command. (He’s not being childish here OK … it’s not ‘I won’t be your friend unless you do what I say … He’s saying ‘if you really love me and are my friend then you would do what I command because you love me)

He goes on …

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.

When was the last time you read your bible? … when was the last time before that? Friends He wants you to know the truth, but you need to