Friend.
So much emotion – good or bad – can come from this one word.
You might have been hurt by a friend in the past.
Or maybe, you’ve just met a new friend. and you aren’t sure if you should trust completely yet.
Regardless, Jesus is our friend. He is constant. He won’t ever pull away or hurt you.
I have been blessed by working alongside new friends this summer. Change isn’t easy for me, I am not much for social activities. So, anytime I meet someone new, you can bet they’ve done the work for it to get to the point of us having a one-to-one conversation.
Some friends we meet because of similar circumstances. (health issues, location, sports)
Some we meet in Bible Study. (they may become a friend. or not)
Some friends we’ve never met in “real” life. (hello, blog friends!)
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have call you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” – John 15:15 (NIV)
“I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.” – John 15:11-15 (MSG)
I found the word choices between the versions interesting:
know vs. learned (I don’t typically equate knowing something with actually learning something.)
understand vs. heard (When I hear something, I don’t necessarily understand it.)
These are differences I’ve learned (now know?). If you put the verse in it’s context and look at this section as a whole (about His commands & us being friends)… it. is. powerful.
Let’s look at the whole passage in the NIV (New International Version) and (MSG) The Message:
I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love. I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. – John 15:9-15 (MSG)
~~~
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s 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 15:9-15 (NIV)
Do you notice how much more personal it is when you look at the context of us following His commands and as a result, Him being our friend?
- He loves us the same way the Father loves Him. (MSG & NIV)
- He says to make ourselves at home in His love. (MSG) <- this makes me think big chair, in front of a fireplace, with a good book
- He tells us when – NOW. (NIV)
- IF we keep His commands, we WILL remain intimately at home in His love. (MSG) <- intimately. it makes me think of a closer form of loving – more than just, “I love [fill in the blank with whatever, at the moment].” Which we say so quickly.
- IF we keep His commands, we WILL remain in His love – just as He has kept His Father’s commands & remains in His love. (NIV) <- We see evidence of Jesus keeping His Father’s command (crucifixion) and His Father’s love (resurrection among many other evidences)
Why do I want to follow His commands? Why is this important? Why does He bother to share these facts with me?
- His purpose: that His joy might be our joy AND our joy will be wholly mature. (MSG)
- He has told us this so that His joy may be in us and that our joy may be complete. (NIV) <- this implies any other joy is incomplete.
What is the command we are to follow?
- This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. (MSG)
- This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. (MSG)
- My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (NIV)
- Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (NIV)
You are my friends when you do the things I command you. (MSG & NIV)
What is His command? Love others. The way He loves us. and how does He tell us to love?
- To lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (MSG)
- Put your life on the line for your friends. (NIV)
NOT a whole list of do’s & don’ts.
Love others the way He loves us = Him calling us ‘friend’.
What do you think? Can we trust loving others is enough to be friends?
I wonder, am I obeying His command – Loving others as He has loved me – well, with purpose? Do I lay down my life for my friends?