2019-08-25 What is a Friend?

Proverbs 18:24 (KJV 1900) 24  A man that hath friends must jshew himself friendly: And kthere is la friend that sticketh closer than a brother.1 John 13:1–15 (NLT) Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.* 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,* son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” 10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet,* to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 2 John 13:31–38 (NLT) Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial 31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man* to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son,* he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” 36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.” 37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me. 3 John 15:9–15 (NLT) 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 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. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 4 Questions 1. Fill in the blank for me. Today we talked about friends. Tell me, the best kind of friend is a friend who _______. 2. Fill in the blank again. Jesus said He wanted us to do something so He could call us friends. He said: “You are My friends if you ________.” 3. Fill In the blank. I’ll do that 1st verse again. Proverbs told us: “A man who has friends must _________.” 4. The first two things the love chapter said about love. There were 2 things. Love is ______ and ________. Tell me 1 of those things. 5. Can anyone tell me the other one? 6. Jesus washed all 12 of the disciple’s feet. Two of the disciples we about to make big mistakes. Can you name one of those disciples? 7. Can you tell me the name of the other one? 8. Is it true that Jesus washed Peter and Judas’ feet even though He knew they were about to let Him down? 9. Can anyone tell me why Jesus did that? 10. True or False. A friendship is something that needs care, like a plant that needs watering. 11. True or False. Taking an interest in another person’s life is a good way to water a friendship. Philippians 2:4 (NKJV) 4 gLet each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of hothers.5 12. True or False. Washing the disciple’s feet was a good way for Jesus to show Himself friendly to them. 13. True or False. It’s enough just to feel friendly, we don’t really have to show ourselves friendly. 14. True or False. Just you can sow plant seeds in the soil. Seeds of friendship can also be planted. 15. True or False. Jesus said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you… unless I have more important plans.”