Holy Week
Day 4
John 15:9-17
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.
Jesus calls us friend
John in his gospel gives us Jesus' dinner conversation with him and the other disciples before His arrest. This intimate discussion is so touching about how Jesus cares for them and us is just incredible. Jesus says, "I no longer call you servants but friends". Jesus who is God in the flesh says, Hey, you are my friend!" Whatever you ask, because you are My friend. Here is what it means to be a friend of God, love other followers of Jesus just like He loves you. That's it. In a world that is hard and struggles are real. Bob Segar sang, "When nothing comes easy, old nightmares are real" . Well, let's be honest that is true but when God calls you friend and says I am telling you friend that I am with you so that your joy may be full. I can be full of joy even when the world around me fallen apart because of my friend Jesus. How much do we all care for our friends? Jesus calls you His friend. He calls the disciples His friends right before their world came crashing in on them. What a friend we have in Jesus isn't just a song we sing at Church it is truth. Go today and be full of joy with your friend Jesus and share that joy because people need it today
