The Art of Friendship Taught by being Friends with Jesus: RRE 47
RRE Oct 27 from One Life Network on Vimeo.
[12] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. [13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command you. [15] No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. [16] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. [17] These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
John 15:12–17 ESV
Jesus creates a relationship with the disciples and us that is completely powered by Him and given like a gift to us. Jesus defines it in this part of the last supper, and gives some details about why His friendship is so important.
Jesus explains that friendship is self-sacrificing. Instead of being friends for what you get out of it, Jesus says to be friends with one another in a way that you can serve one another. This friendship with Jesus will reveal more and more who God is. Jesus wants to show off God, and God wants to show off in us, and this happens through friendship with Jesus.
To be fruitful with our lives is to love Jesus and be His friend. This is the way that He shows off in us, as we partner with Him.
From this friendship, we can have deeper friendships with others. We will be able to care more for the people we talk to as we have been cared for by Christ. Together we will all learn more about the friendship of Jesus and the Father as we are self-sacrificing friends with each other.