Friendship with the King, John 15:12-17

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” - Proverbs 18:24

Connect Camp: God is a true friend

True friends are loyal because God is loyal.

(God is faithful to those who are His, even when they are not faithful to Him. Loyalty is not conditional.)

True friends forgive because God forgives.

(God forgives us so that shapes our understanding of what friendship looks like)

True friends serve because Jesus serves.

True friends serve one another by putting others first…

And how does Jesus serve? Well in one way Jesus humbled himself by serving his disciples by washing their feet. Not only did Jesus serve by washing feet, ultimately he served through His death and resurrection.

Philippians 2:3-8 says, “[3] Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. [5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

John 15:13 says:

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Jesus connects love to sacrifice and those to friendship. I would add to the list of things true friends do the following:

True friends sacrifice because Jesus laid down his life for His friends.

Jesus has laid down His life for those He calls friends… this means that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and died for those who He calls friends. Jesus willingly laid down his life for us, so that through his death and resurrection we might find forgiveness and eternal life.

Romans 5:6-8 says,

“[6] For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—[8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God has demonstrated his love for us through Jesus’ sacrifice. While you were sinning, or in your sinfulness Jesus died for you. This is the gospel message, that God loves you and that through Jesus he has made a way for you to be reconciled to Him for all eternity.

And in this new found reconciliation with God… your relationship has changed and what was once a relationship with enmity, there is family… and in this changed relationship Jesus says we have moved from servants to friends…

In John 15:12-17 Jesus teaches us about His friendship with us. Stand with me as we read John 15:12-17 together…

John 15:12-17

[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.

Jesus is the King who sticks closer than a brother.

Why not say that Jesus is the friend who sticks closer than a brother? Well, that’s true… but Jesus never ceases to be the King, even when He’s a friend. Let’s walk through this passage together.

John 15:12-17

[12] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Friendship and command?

The command to love as Jesus has loved us? What does that mean? (See verse 13)

[13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

This is what love looks like

You might lay down your life for good person… but Jesus did for the bad people.

[14] You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Who are Jesus’ friends? Those who do what He commands… and what does He command? Love one another as He has loved us.

Jesus defines the relationship… DTR (what is that for the current generation)

[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.

the relationship has changed… what changed? Jesus calls us friend, because He has made known the Father’s plans.

[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.

You don’t decide if the King is your friend, the King decides who His friends are. And He has purpose. To often people get caught up arguing about God’s choice versus our choice… this argument doesn’t make sense when the Word is so clear when it comes to that issue. (Not either or, it’s a both and) But what does it mean that Jesus said he chose and appointed? It means that He has a plan and a purpose for His friendship with you.

What is that plan? That you go and bear fruit!

[17] These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Jesus commends? What does it mean to commend? And why? So that we would go and love one another.

You cannot be friends with Jesus and not love one another. (Kind of like trying to be friends with someone but not liking their spouse) When they find out you don’t like their spouse that relationship is over… who wants to be friends with someone who doesn’t like the person they like and love the most?!)

Jesus is the friend who commands?

Friendship with the King…

Four truths about your friendship with the King:

The King calls you His friend.

The King shares His plans and purposes with his friends.

The King’s friends love one another the way that He loves them.

No matter how close you get, He will always be the King.

Actions/Do:

Submit to the King.

Jesus makes it clear that friendship is his doing… and it comes to those who surrender and submit to Him as King, Lord, and Savior. And to those who are His he extends friendship. The kind of friendship that lets you know what he is doing and why He is doing it.

Unlike the worldly servant or slave to master relationship, Jesus offers friendship to those who are His…

Spend time with the King.

He’s a friend, and friendship comes with relationship… an ever deepening relationship.

Serve the King.

Though he’s friend, he is still King and worthy of our service and submission. You can see a number of ways you can serve Him through the ministry and mission effort of the church… and next week we will look more deeply at how serving the Lord is central to our relationships with one another.

Does He call you friend?

Do you know the why behind the what?

Do you love one another the way that He loves you?

Friendship with Jesus changes the nature of our relationship with God, but it does not change the reality of who God is or our responsibility to Him.

how do you know if you are His friend?

You know and understand His plan and His purpose

You obey

Friends abide, because Jesus abides in them

Friends love, because they know the love of God

Friends obey, because even though God makes his plans and purposes known, He has not ceased to be God.

Friendship with God is a blessing, not permission to ignore His commands

True friends abide and obey, because Jesus loves and cares for us.

Friendship with the world versus friendship with God.

John 15:1-11

I Am the True Vine

[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3] Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. [9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.