God is a Friend to you, but are you a Friend to God?
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Intro
Intro
Today we go into the heart of one of the most important and precious conversations in history...
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 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.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 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.
Context:
In John 15, we are the midst of what is sometimes called “Passion Week” from Sunday - Sunday:
· The Sunday before Christ was crucified is called palm Sunday. Jesus and disciples left Bethany (Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived) after Martha washed the feet of Jesus with a pound of spikenard…
And headed for Jerusalem…
· this is where the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem takes place and the multitude praised Him as He rode in on a colt saying, “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord!”
Soon this very same crowd that is praising Jesus would be crying out, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
· And while Jesus made that entry into Jerusalem, the Pharisees told Jesus to correct the multitude for praising Him and Jesus said, “If they didn’t, the rocks would cry out!”
· Tuesday night – Jesus met with the 12 apostles in the upper room and took the Lord’s supper. They ate Lamb with bread dipped in sauce. All of which at the table would dip in the same bowl. Jesus spoke of his betrayal that one of them would betray Him who was sitting at the table.
· They were exceeding sorrowful asking “is it I?”
· It was to be a supposed “friend” who dipped his bread in the dish
· Then they took the Lord’s supper
· Jesus washed the disciple’s feet
· They asked again who would be the betrayer and Jesus told them, “He it is to whom I have given the sop when I dipped it.”
· Satan entered Judas a second time the Bible says and
· Jesus said, “That thou doest, do quickly.”
· Judas left to do his deed
· Then they sang a hymn
And now we pick up in John 15 as Jesus had this close moment of friendship between he and the apostles in the streets of Jerusalem…
And it is in those dark streets of Jerusalem…
As the betrayer just left the upper room to commit is evil act of betrayal on the Saviour…
And before Jesus and the apostles make it to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus will literally sweat great drops of blood in horrific emotional and physical agony as He cries out to His Father…
We see a glimpse into the conversation with Jesus and the apostles:
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
I want to make a statement and a question to direct our study this morning…
“God is a Friend to you, but are You a Friend to God?”
Jesus’ death on the cross for your sin and mine was the single greatest example of friendship known to mankind…
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the truth is:
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
I see 4 things that this act of friendship was rooted in and how it was exemplified:
1.Jesus’ Friendship Toward us was Rooted in Love and exemplified in Obedience
1.Jesus’ Friendship Toward us was Rooted in Love and exemplified in Obedience
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
This act of love from Jesus to all mankind was the single greatest example of love that could ever be given…
Have you ever asked the question, “Does God love me?”
And then have you ever followed that up with, “Why does God love me?”
16 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.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
How was Jesus’ love exemplified in obedience?
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Jesus’ choice to go to the cross for you and I was a direct example of obedience to His Father...
We see the friendship that Jesus showed toward us was rooted in love and exemplified through obedience…
We know that God is a Friend to you…
But the question remains… are you a friend to God?
Jesus isn’t the only one who should be doing the obeying…
Jesus exemplified His love toward His Father by obedience…
We too exemplify our love toward God by obedience to Him…
2. Jesus’ Friendship was Rooted in Communication and Exemplified in Fellowship
2. Jesus’ Friendship was Rooted in Communication and Exemplified in Fellowship
15 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.
The fact that Jesus communicated with those around Him in such a specific way was an example of His friendship toward them…
Friends communicate…
While Jesus was with His apostles, He communicated with them…
While He was in the upper room, He communicated with them…
While He was in the streets between the upper room and the Garden of Gethsemane, He communicated with them special truths such as:
· “I will send you the comforter”
· “Peace I leave with you”
· “Let not your heart be troubled”
· “Love one another”
· “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
· “If they persecute me, they’ll persecute you”
· “A little while and you won’t see me”
· “A little while and you will see me”
· “I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do.”
He loved you and I so much that He communicated to us through His perfect Word…
We know Jesus exemplified His friendship to us through communication…
Do you communicate with Him?
3. Jesus’ Friendship was Rooted in Humility and Exemplified in Service
3. Jesus’ Friendship was Rooted in Humility and Exemplified in Service
As they mocked Him, beat Him, spat upon Him, beat Him with the cat of ninetails, placed the crown of thorns on His head, nailed Him to a cross and humiliated Him…
He could have called legions of angels at any point, yet He chose to allow it to happen…
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs,
And carried our sorrows:
Yet we did esteem him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities:
The chastisement of our peace was upon him;
And with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned every one to his own way;
And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
Yet he opened not his mouth:
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,
So he openeth not his mouth.
That’s friendship…
And it was exemplified in what He did for you and I…
We know Jesus’ friendship toward us was rooted in humility and exemplified in His service toward us…
But are you showing your friendship to Him by humble service for Him?
4. Jesus’ Friendship was Rooted in Sacrifice and Exemplified in His Death
4. Jesus’ Friendship was Rooted in Sacrifice and Exemplified in His Death
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
What an act of grace (something we don’t deserve)
Because of Jesus’ friendship toward mankind, He:
Was willingly betrayed by a kiss…
And as he received that kiss, the very first word out of His mouth was “Friend”… “wherefore art thou come”
As Judas’ lips touched the dried blood on the side of Jesus’ face… no doubt the very blood that could have saved him…
Jesus was beaten…
Mocked…
Betrayed by Peter…
Spat upon…
Had a crown of thorns impaled into His skull…
Taken through an illegal trial…
Had false witnesses brought against Him…
Beat with a cat of ninetails while having the flesh on His back ripped off…
He suffered incredible emotional and physical agony…
And He was eventually nailed to a cross and placed between two thieves…
The entire time Jesus COULD HAVE called legions of angels, yet CHOSE not too in the greatest act of friendship toward you and I…
As Jesus’ friendship was rooted in Sacrifice and Exemplified in His Death…
The questions remains, “Are you a friend to God?”
Jesus isn’t the only one to be willingly sacrificing Himself…
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Conclusion:
We are either friends of God or enemies of God (show verses)
If you’ve never trusted Christ as your personal Saviour than as you sit here today as an enemy of God…
But the invitation to be called “Friend” is extended…
Will you accept the free gift of salvation?
He loved you and exemplified it in obedience...
He communicates with you and exemplifies it in fellowship…
He humbled Himself and exemplifies it in service…
He was the sacrifice and exemplified it in His death…
