If there is one Person you can count on to be the greatest Friend in the world, it is Jesus the Son of God. This Friend is devoid of selfishness; He is always kind; He is quick to forgive; He never holds a grudge or keeps record of a wrong. If you are ever in a bind, this Friend knows just what to do, and if required, He would give His life to save yours.
Anyone who really knows this Friend agrees there is no greater. In fact, all who know Him understand what a great privilege it is to be called His friend. The problem is that those of us who do know Him often fall short on our side of the friendship. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him and though Peter surely remembered he had denied Jesus a few days earlier, he was hurt by the question. (see John 21) ‘Do you love Me?’ is a question Jesus continues to ask His disciples.
We sing “What a Friend we have in Jesus…”, but do we reflect on what kind of friend we are to Him? There have been occasions when I failed to speak up for a friend when I had the chance. I felt terrible after the fact, knowing the opportunity could not be regained. The hesitancy usually revolved around the knowledge that if I supported a friend someone else disregarded, I might be disregarded too.
Jesus does not need me to come to His rescue; He is perfectly able to take care of Himself. He is ‘King of kings and Lord of lords,’ but this King has called ‘insignificant me’ His friend. So shouldn’t I be willing to stand with Him no matter what? If the whole world disregards me because I love Him, should it matter? A good friend thinks: “I don’t care what anyone else says, thinks, or does… this friendship means the world to me.”
Granted, our human friends can disappoint us, make terrible errors, and possess alarming flaws. (This is what Jesus can say about me.) But the Friend who has chosen us possesses no weaknesses, always tells the truth, and never fails. He has endured uncountable insults, false accusations, and betrayals… yet He does not strike back or take revenge. Jesus desires we be His friends forever.
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command. 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.”
John 15:12-15