Jesus My Savior My Friend

My TEXT FOR TODAY IS

John 15:13–14 NLT

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

That word friend means someone with a close bond or friendship - command can also be translated instruct

In the Message Bible ( which gives you a picture of what the passage means, says in verses 11-15

"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.

Someone once said, “Life is the most valuable object we possess; and when one is willing to lie that down for his friends or his country, it shows the utmost extent of love.

How does it do that?

Why?- If you die you gain nothing – the other gains everything

You have perished – so money, fame, fortune, and power – it is all meaningless to a dead person. You have given it all up

The pharaohs tried to keep it even after death but in the end they could not take anything with them!!It is spread out throughout museums around the world

The amazing mind blowing thing about Christ was , he was even willing to die for enemies - bitter foes, those who rejected his reign, persecuted him, reviled him, scorned him, and sought his life.

He gave himself up, not to common sufferings, but to the most bitter, painful, and protracted sorrows, not for himself, not for friends, but for a thoughtless and unbelieving world

Psalms 40 says Jesus delighted to do the will of the father. (think of it it was his good pleasure to lay his life down for you)

Friendship

On Facebook you have friends – probably more than you want and even know to any degree. Most are not really good friends, some you might not have talked to for years, some you might have never met.

Friendship is a two way street. Where you can walk down a road and back again with someone you love.

Emily Dickinson wrote –“My friends are my estate”

How many of you heard of a person named Helen Keller ( she was blind and deaf ) There is a movie about her called the Miracle Worker- It is her teacher, later her best friend that intrigued her the most- Anne Sullivan who was only 20 years of age when she took on Helen Keller and Ann was nearly blind herself

When it came to sacrifice and friendship it was her. She spent her life with her and gave Anne a chance at life that she would not of had.

"With every friend I love who has been taken into the brown bosom of the earth a part of me has been buried there; but their contribution to my being of happiness, strength and understanding remains to sustain me in an altered world." - Helen Keller

Jesus didn’t just come to earth to only die for you; he came to be your friend!!!!!

He is a friend that will stick closer than a brother

A friend who is there at 3 am when you are lost in your addiction or depression

He is there at the loss of a loved one

He is there when you are so frustrated with life that you want to give up

He is there when you get that promotion or the birth of your children

He is In the front row at your wedding, shouting loader than everyone at your graduation

Jesus my friend is here with me as I preach this sermon – He is rooting me on and oh yes he brought some angel friends with him – He even brought his own chair so he wouldn’t take yours. Not only do we have a friend, but he brings friends

Scripture says

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Timothy Franks wrote this poem

HE CALLED ME FRIEND, WHEN I WAS LOST AND ALONE,

HE CALLED ME FRIEND. , WHEN I WAS TRAVELING DOWN SATAN'S ROAD,

HE CALLED ME FRIEND.

JESUS CALLED ME FRIEND, AND STRECTHED HIS ARMS OUT FOR ME.

HE TOOK ALL MY SINS UPON HIMSELF, WHEN HE DIED ON CALVERY.

IN MY DEEPEST DARKEST HOUR, HE CALLED ME FRIEND.

WHEN MY HEART TURNED BITTER AND SOUR, HE CALLED ME FRIEND.

JESUS CALLED ME FRIEND, AND SHOWED ME HIS AMAZING LOVE.

HE MADE MY LIFE WHOLE AGAIN, AND HE GUIDES ME FROM ABOVE.

I LIVE A LIFE BRAND NEW, BECAUSE HE CALLED ME FRIEND.

LORD I GIVE MY LIFE TO YOU, YOU CALLED ME FRIEND.

How many of you remember that old hymn, What a friend we have in JEsus?

It says can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share ( as Jesus)

The amazing thing is His friendship is voluntary and His friendship is great. Jesus is the perfect example of true friendship

LISTEN _ the king of Kings and Lord of Lords has made himself a friend to you in this time on earth

Question; Do the greatest men or women on earth look for ways of getting in contact with you to be your friend. The answer to that is no

Jesus is a friend who gives you

Freedom of access – Freedom of time.

Like the old hymn we just heard- He also helps you NOT to feel alone.

Many struggle with loneliness- Many people in the Bible struggled with it. David felt alone, Ezekiel felt alone.

That is why Ps 23 is such a memorable psalm-

It says God is with you. He is a friend above every friend. He is the encourager above every encourager. He is the hand on your shoulder, the smile in the crowd, He is your hi five guy, he is also the designated driver at times.

So what do you think?

Romans 8:31-39 (The Message)

Romans 8:31–39 MSG

31 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? 32 If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? 33 And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? 34 Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. 35 Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: 36 They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. 37 None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. 38 I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, 39 high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Friendship is Independent of Circumstances - Scripture says, a friend loves at all times

Proverbs 17:17 NASB95

17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

Conclusion:

Is Jesus Your Savior and Friend? He needs to be both

- Or is he just your genie in your back pocket that you bring out when you’re in trouble

- Do you serve him like you would your best friend in the world?

- Would you die for Jesus – if he asked you to lay it down?

Even tougher question - Do you know Him?

Matthew 7:21-23 (New Living Translation)

True Disciples

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Does God know you- really?- Do you really know him or do you know about him – there is a big difference

If I walked up to your friend or your wife and said I know him but I don’t know anything about you – your wife would say you really don’t know my husband- I do but you don’t

For some of you It is time to find a new friend,