A Loving Friend
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A Loving Friend
A Loving Friend
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.
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.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
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friend...
What a word -
What this word represents...
to some - there is a fond memory and use of the word - you have friends...
to some - this word brings soberness and emptiness...
there is a longing in you to have a friend -
there is a desire in you to be a friend - but - you are lonely -
you stand back and watch as others communicate - laugh, joke, tease...
you observe as others talk about doing things together - in the future / or reminisce of the past...
you are lonely - in need of a friend
to some - this word friend brings only a negative response… you have been abandoned by a friend
Your friend has mistreated you / or you mistreated them - maybe even some of both - but now there is only a bitterness that fills that place where friendship used to dwell.
but no matter where we are in this realm of friends - I want to tell you that there is a friend like no other -
There is one who has exhibited friendship to all -
Illustration - I was a youth pastor for 17 years - In that time - during those years - there was a lot of “friendship” drama...
you would have 3 girls that would be friends - but that friendship with 3 girls was always on unstable ground - because 2 of the girls would begin to be closer and then the other would be left out… then something would happen and a different girl would be left out… but the friendship with 3 was always a little on the superficial side - they just couldn’t figure out how to be close to more than 1 other person.
There is a friend that knows how to be a friend to everyone…
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
A Loving Friend
A Loving Friend
When we look at context of scripture - we find how the Lord is communicating with his disciples - This discourse - is from the last supper until he is arrested in the garden… So chapter 13-chapter 18, we find the Lord giving his disciples his final thoughts before the cross and his crucifixion.
In this uninterrupted teaching time - the Lord lays out some things for the disciples that will carry them through the trying times ahead...
1. A Joyful Friend
1. A Joyful Friend
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
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I am sure that Jesus was a friendly person -
people do not flock to people who are not friendly
people are drawn to friendly people
People were drawn to the Savior -
I am sure he had a smile and not a scowl
I am sure he was approachable and not repelling
Illust:
you know the person - maybe you were this way - they have the chip on their shoulder - “go ahead - knock it off”
I remember before I got saved - I was in fights all the time - my parents told me that If I could go 2 weeks w/o getting kicked out for fighting, they would buy me a brand new bmx dirt bike
I did not get the bike...
In Junior high - I was sent to the principle’s office for fighting - Mr. Brunaugh - he had a huge paddle - I got in a fight in his office and got kicked out of his office and school at the same time -
I had a chip on my shoulder - I was angry / aggressive - I was ready to go to blows w/ anybody…for any reason
I am so glad I got saved!!!!
Where anger once dwelled - peace and joy and contentment now abide!!!
My joy is full - why? because everything is going great? no - because His JOY is in me…
it’s not about me at all -
anything good
anything beneficial - is all the Lord...
Jesus was telling his disciples...
Hard days are coming - but I want you to have my joy in you… I want your joy to be full
“Joy is not the absence of heartache - it is the presence of God”
“Joy is not the absence of heartache - it is the presence of God”
O Christian - let me tell you - that Jesus knows every trial that you are facing...
he knows
he cares -
1. Does Jesus care when my heart is pain'd too deeply for mirth or song, as the burdens press, And the cares distress, And the way grows weary and long?
2. Does Jesus care when my way is dark With a nameless dread and fear? As the daylight fades Into deep night shades, Does He care enough to be near?
3. Does Jesus Care when I've tried and fail'd To resist some temptation strong? When in my deep grief I find no relief, Tho' my tears flow all the night long?
4. Does Jesus care when I've said"Goodby!" To the dearest on earth to me, And my sad heart aches Till it nearly breaks: Is this aught to Him? does He see?
Chorus. O yes, He cares; I know He cares, His heart is touch'd with my grief: When the days are weary, The long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.
2. A Sacrificial Friend
2. A Sacrificial Friend
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus -
The sinless Son of God...
God in the flesh
He… submitted himself to pay a debt for us
There’s a chorus -
He paid a debt he did not owe
I owed a debt I could not pay...
Jesus though taken by a mob
though mistreated and scourged at the hands of a corrupt legal system
the recipient of the venom of ruthless roman ruler -
The victim of vicious and jealous religious rulers...
His life was not taken from him - he gave it...
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
3. A Serving Friend
3. A Serving Friend
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.
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.
O what kind of person could receive the love and sacrifice of the Savior without recognizing the responsibility of being a freind to the one who so greatly befriended us...
What kind of person - could see what Christ did for them and then
Reject his sacrifice
Reject his great gift of Salvation
Relegate the responsibility of service off to someone else...
There is a story about a fire that engulfed a families home - The fire was so hot that no one could enter the home and the crowd of people were watching in amazement as the fire blazed out of control. To everyone’s amazement, a little boy on the 3rd floor began to cry out from an upper window. A man ran to the burning building and scaled up the old cast iron gutters to the 3rd floor and carried that little boy down before he was lost as well. When the man got back down - the fire truck and emt’s arrived - the little boy had some smoke inhalation - but the man’s hands were burned so badly that the flesh was coming off the bones… Weeks passed - months came and went - but there was a need to find a new family for this little boy - A hearing was set and people came and gave reasons why they should be the ones to take the boy in - finally a man entered the courtroom and requested to take the boy in - The judge asked him - what could he do for this child and why should the courts give him the boy - the man said nothing - he just held out his hands… Everyone knew the story… they had heard about the man who willingly risked his own life for the life of the child. Everyone knew the great pain and suffering that he had endured to save the child’s life. When he held out his hands for all to see - the courts gave him custody of this little boy.
After all the Savior has done for us… after all of the pain, anguish… His suffering on our behalf… shouldn’t we serve him?
Serving the Savior is not a condition for salvation - but it is the expectation of the Savior who purchased our salvation...
You are here today - Friend Day...
I look around me today - and am so thankful for the friends who are here with us today...
I
But let me tell you -
though we will try to be a good friend - we will fail...
But there is one who will never fail -
That is the Lord Jesus Christ -
A Loving Friend -
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13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
