WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
John 15: 12-15
Today we are here to celebrate Family and Friends Day. I want us today to think about what the word friend means. The word friend has been used so much and so casually, until it’s true meaning has become lost. It is my task this afternoon to shed light on this word friend and bring out its true meaning and try to make you understand “What a friend we have in Jesus”. What is this word friend? What exactly does it mean?
According to the Dictionary, the word friend is “a person whom one loves and trusts”. Another definition says a friend is, “a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter”. Brothers and sisters, I like to think that a friend is someone who will go to the ends of the earth and back for and with you just because you asked him too. A friend is someone who will help you when you’re right and has the courage to let you know when you are wrong.
A friend is someone that doesn’t just stick around because it looks good; they are not there just because you can be of benefit to them. Our children go to school and meet so many different people and quickly attach themselves to certain one’s of them as “friends”. Maybe its because they act the same way; maybe it’s because they play the same games; maybe it’s because they like the same foods. Whatever it is they become “friends”.
We need to make sure that they realize that not everyone is your friend. Not everyone wants to be your friend. Friends are the ones that want what’s good for one another. Anyone that does not want good for you is not a friend. Anyone that gets you into trouble instead of helping you to stay out of trouble is not a friend. Anyone that keeps you from doing what’s right is not a friend. Friends are few and far between.
Most of the people whom we come in contact with are better described as acquaintances; contacts; links or companions rather than friends. Acquaintances smile and talk a good game; contacts pretend to be your friend; but when the significant, critical times come, when the down and out times lift their heads, acquaintances are rarely ever anywhere to be seen. Real friends, true friends are a very rare feature.
True friends make every effort to be there for each other in times of need and strife. In good times and in bad times friends will be there.
They love and help each other during the happy times as well as the downhearted and heart-breaking times. They are there when you have and when you don’t have. They look beyond the superficial and see the quality of the heart and the pure goodness of the soul. In general we all have only a few people that we can truly call friends.
People that we can depend on no matter what the situation may be. People who are willing to give up self to help out someone else. People who will go to the ends of the earth and back just to help. Brothers and sisters, I come to tell you this evening that Jesus is that type of friend! Our text this evening in verse 13 states “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” This is a selfless love! This is the mark of a true friend!
A true friend exhibits this type of love; He puts others before himself, he shows unselfishness. My brothers and sisters by far the greatest friend one can have is the Lord Jesus Christ! God's word tells us, "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." You see, if you want to have friends, you must take the lead by showing yourself to be friendly with others.
It is easier to attract people with kindness than with a sour expression or character, (prettiest person in the world but have an ugly attitude). You must go out of your way to speak to others, to make contact, to be kind and thoughtful to those whom you would have to be your friends. A lot of times it seems that the more you have the more friends you have. As long as you are on top everyone wants to be your friend.
But let your circumstances change and nobody seems to know you! Let you be on the wrong side of the “in crowd” and all you friends run away! Let something happen and you don’t have what you used to have or you are not who you used to be! People will leave you at the drop of a hat! Peter was not only Jesus’ friend, but was a disciple that followed His teaching. But when the going got tough Peter got going. He denied three times after His capture even knowing Jesus.
Peter loved Jesus but Peter wanted to save his own hide. He saw what they were putting Jesus through and didn’t want it to happen to him. Peter told Jesus he would be with Him until death, but when it came time to put up or shut up, Peter quickly shut up! That’s how a lot of us are, we will quickly proclaim Jesus is our Lord and Savior in front of those who are like us; in front of those who go along with us, but we shut up when it really matters!
We shut up when someone challenges us or asks us if we follow Jesus! We don’t want to be labeled as “uncool” or a “bible thumper”. We want to fit in with everybody else! Jesus said in Mark 8:38, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” A devoted friend would stick by you until the end. Brothers and sisters, “What a friend we have in Jesus”!
As I prepare to close, I just want to say when we all examine our list of friends; we find that there are not a lot of people that make the list. But I come to tell you this evening that there is not a friend like Jesus, no, not one! He is a friend that sticks closer than any brother! He is a friend to those that are friendless! When you have a friend like Jesus, you don’t have to worry about your enemies, “For if God is for you, He is more than the world against you”!
Brothers and sisters, this evening, let us remember “What a friend we have in Jesus”! Let us not take our friends for granted! Most of all let us thank God for being our friend! Two thousand years ago God sent His Son, not to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved! God so loved us that he gave His only begotten Son! The Son so loved us that He gave His life!
But brothers and sisters, I need you to understand that the story did not stop there, because early on that third day morning, Jesus rose with all power in His hands! He got up showing His nail-scarred hands! He got up because He said He would! Brothers and sisters the story is not complete unless we know that He got up for you and for me! Jesus is a true friend!
John 15:15 states that we are His friends! It says; “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” Brothers and sisters, “What a friend we have in Jesus”, He will never let you down! “What a friend we have in Jesus”, He will never leave you nor forsake you! “What a friend we have in Jesus”, He is always by your side!
“What a friend we have in Jesus”, He is there when you need Him! “What a friend we have in Jesus”, He can speak to the wind and the waves and make them stand still! When the troubles of life are weighing you down, “What a friend we have in Jesus”! When you don’t know which way to turn, “What a friend we have in Jesus”! When we need a shoulder to cry on, “What a friend we have in Jesus”!
When we need comfort in the time of sorrow, “What a friend we have in Jesus”! When we need peace in the midst of confusion, “What a friend we have in Jesus”! When we need to be made whole, “What a friend we have in Jesus”! If you want to know Him all you have to do is call on Him! All you have to do is believe that He wants to be your friend! He’s a friend that won’t turn His back on you! He’s a friend that won’t make fun of you! He’s a friend that won’t talk about you!
He’s a friend that won’t kick you when you’re down! He’s a friend that loves you despite all your problems! I wonder have you tried Him? I wonder have you opened the door of your heart for Him? I wonder have you given Him your life? I wonder have you tried to be His friend? He will be your friend unto the end! If you need healing, if you need redemption, if you need deliverance, if you need joy in the place of sorrow, why don’t you try Jesus?
Why don’t you try the best friend of all? Why don’t you try the friend who stills the troubled waters? Why don’t you try the friend who calms the sea? Why don’t you try the friend who will make your enemies your footstool? Why don’t you try the friend who loves you just as you are? Why don’t you try the friend who is ready and willing to forgive all your sins? You’ve tried everything else why not try Jesus? You’ve made everybody else your friend, why not try Jesus?
Brothers and sisters you’ve made friends with this world now it’s time to realize that there is not a friend like Jesus! It is time to realize, what you tell Jesus stays with Jesus! It’s time to realize, Jesus wants what’s best for you and not what you can give Him! It’s time to realize, Jesus is always on you side! It is time to realize, “What a friend we have in Jesus”! If you really want a friend that will stick with you; if you really want a friend that will protect you;
If you really want a friend that will help you; if you really want a friend that will give you joy in the time of sorrow; you need to find out, “What a friend we have in Jesus”! Jesus is your friend but are you His? Are you following in His footsteps? Are you helping Him by living your life for Him? Are you lifting Him up or are you letting Him down? “What a friend we have in Jesus”, let’s make sure He has a friend in us! What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in Prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged: Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness- take it to the Lord in prayer.
