Jesus, Our Friend

Abraham Lincoln wrote to a friend during his presidency and said, “"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships”. If you think about friendship there are so many emotions that can come to your mind. Hopefully, most are wonderful feelings, but sometimes they can bring emotions of sadness, heartache, desire for more, and loneliness. Friendships drive so much of our life and God’s word has so much to say on this topic.

We have the great example of David and Jonathan and how in I Samuel 23:16 it says, “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. Many years of David’s life was spent hiding in a cave, terrified, lonely, and anxious and Jonathan went and ministered to him". It is a beautiful example of how a friend can hold you up when you need help and encourage you when you are down. I love how this scripture focuses on “strength in the Lord”.  Jonathan knew the only way David’s soul would rest from the anxiousness of his circumstances was in speaking the truth of who God is over him. I am certain Jonathan reminded him of the attributes and promises of God.

Sadly, there are other examples in scripture of friends that had significant conflict and had to dissolve their relationship. Paul and Barnabas were close friends and they had a quarrel (Acts 15:36-42). The disagreement was so intense that they parted ways and we don’t have any biblical knowledge that they ever saw each other again.

While these are two contrasts in friendship in scripture, ultimately, we look to Jesus Christ as our model of a loyal and loving friend. John 11:5 shows He had a close relationship with Martha, Mary and Lazarus. It says, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus”. When Mary and Martha were grieving over the death of Lazarus it says that Jesus was moved with compassion and he wept.

Beyond the earthly example of His friendship, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross shows us the ultimate display of love for our eternal security.  Romans 5:7-9 states, “For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him”.

Jesus Christ is the greatest friend we can have. He was a friend to all - prostitutes, tax collectors, liars, adulterers, murderers, and ALL sinners. Do you know Him?  Do you know the depth of His love?  If you do, praise Him today and worship Him for His sacrifice on the cross so that we may live!

In His great love,

Leeanne