One thing I often tell people, and remind myself of regularly, is that some friendships are only for a season. If you think back on your lifetime, you can recall the friendships from primary school, high school, university, or from the start of your career. You might have friends that you had when your own kids were young on a sports team or in school together.
Likewise, there are friendships that you cannot remember when it began, and you are sure will never end, which is such a blessing. This isn’t to say those shorter friendships had any less meaning. They were an amazing gift for the time they were in your life, but those lifelong friends are the ones who have seen each season you have been in and walked closely through them all. Together, you have celebrated and grieved, laughed and cried, and watched new adventures begin. They are the friends that you’d consider strong and steady.
The Friend That Lasts
In John 15:15, Jesus here is making known that He isn’t only Savior, King, Ruler, and Prince of Peace. He is Friend. And He is a friend that outlasts all others!
In the verses preceding verse 15, Jesus has taught about what it means to abide in Him and bear fruit. Then He turns towards focusing on loving one another. Jesus knew that loving others would not always be a natural thing. We are humans with a sin nature, so we struggle to love and to be loved sometimes. This is why loving others is a command for us to obey (John 15:12; Matthew 22:29).
As we walk in this obedience, it reveals our love for others but ultimately our love for and friendship with Jesus. Obedience is the outpouring of that personal relationship. Jesus points out the lack of relational intimacy between a servant and a master. He reveals that this isn’t the relationship He holds with His people. Rather, believers are privileged to a deeper relationship, one of true friendship.
Framing Friendship
As we recognize Jesus for who He is and rightly revere Him, we will know His friendship. David says in Psalm 25:14 (ESV), “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them His covenant.”
Friendship with Jesus only comes to those who rightly view Christ in all His glory. A fear of the Lord leads to intimacy in relationship with God because it puts Him and us in the proper place. We know the beauty of who He is and the joys that are offered in His promises!
I feel it is important to recognize that we all can think of difficult friendships in our lives that have ended up broken and unsatisfying, which might make these verses difficult. We grieve the friends we have lost in hard and hurtful ways. An important thing to remember here is that Jesus is an even better and more faithful friend than anyone on this earth can be.
I think about my closest friends and the joy and gift they are to me. They listen well, encourage, make me laugh, and point me towards Christ. At the end of the day, they will fail me, and I will fail them. They aren’t created to be or able to be perfect friends. But Jesus is. He is one who will remain a sure and steady anchor for us. He will bring joy, peace, grace, and hope in all we face!
A Model Friendship
Not only is Jesus our perfect friend, but He models what it means to be a friend. We will not be perfect in all our relationships as He is. However, we can strive to love others like Christ as we depend on the Spirit’s help and know Christ through His Word.
I can think back to so many times when I have failed in friendships. I can now clearly see that the ways in which I acted were often not in alignment with who Christ is or calls me to be as I reflect Him. When we wonder what kind of friend we should be, we can go to God’s Word and see who Jesus is and seek to model our lives after Him. We know we will not do it as He does, but what an incredible opportunity we get to strive towards!
Finally, what I find so satisfying about this friendship with Jesus is that He truly is a forever friend! If we have put our faith and trust in Him, we get to live in this deep friendship for Christ for all of eternity! He is with us now, but He always will be as we worship, serve, and dwell with Him for now and forevermore!
