A Friend of Jesus

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

When someone becomes a parent things begin to change in their life. All of the years leading up to that point they really didn’t have anyone that they were in charge of the safety of. They may have had other brothers or sisters but ultimately the safety of the rest of the family rested directly on the parents. A child may have a small animal as a pet growing up and just as that pet was the child’s responsibility to look after the children in a family are the responsibility of the parents to feed, clothe, and provide for any and all of their needs, physical safety included, and not just because it is their responsibility, but a parent should do all of these things because they love their children. 

Love is a very powerful thing, isn’t it? So powerful, in fact, that a person’s love for someone else may even cause a person to give up their own life to save someone else’s. A parent might see their child walk out into the street and directly in the path of an unsuspecting motorist but because of their great love for their child they will run out to push them out of the way, even if it means that they are going to die themselves they will do it to save their child.

This is what Jesus has done, except that His love for you is far greater than anyone else could love you. Jesus gave His life up and died on the cross so that you could live forever in Heaven. This is something that no one else has done or can do for you, only Jesus did. 

John 15:9-15  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

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.

It is such an amazing display of love, because not only did Jesus die for you, He died for your brother, your neighbor, the people in the next town, everyone. Jesus died for everyone, “pushing them out of the way” so to speak so that they don’t have to die in their sins, but instead can have the opportunity to live forever in Heaven. 

It’s a sacrifice that Jesus gave. Imagine that you watched as your parent died before your eyes because they had just saved you from death, switching places with you so that you could live. Would you immediately go and purposely step out in front of the next car that passes by? What would have been the purpose of your parent’s sacrifice? They died so that you might continue to live. Jesus loves you so much that He suffered and died so that you could live forever. Would you be someone who would throw away that gift of love?

John 3:14-17  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jesus does not want anyone to perish because. He died to bring salvation to those who seek it, yet it is the sad truth that many people will refuse His salvation, but that offer is right there for them to take. The question is: will they believe? Will they believe enough to turn away from their sins, and not let Christ’s sacrifice be in vain? To be a friend of Christ we must obey His commandments. Will you be Jesus’ friend?

In Christ

Andrew