John 15- Jesus the loving friend

John 13-17 occur in the last moments before Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. In John 15 Judas is already on the way to betray our Lord.

Known as the upper room discourse

Jesus knows his time is coming. He has known for quite a while. We are quite literally hearing some of his last words before his death.

he has already outlined our relationship with him now he is describing our relationship with the world and each other!

Friendship with Christ (John 15:12-13)

Jesus really loves you. He really is a friend!

He said it!

John 15:9 “9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”

He proved it!

Romans 5:8 “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

John15:13 “13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

He chose us! - John 15:12 “12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

John 15:16 “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.”

He picked that group of rag tag men to love and he loves a church of redeemed sinners

1 John 4:10 “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.”

1 John 4:19 “19 We love him, because he first loved us.”

THAT IS GRACE! He loved and saved the worst!

Press into the benefits of friendship

There is fellowship there!

1 John 1:3 “3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

There is a soft ear!

1 Peter 5:7 “7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

He is faithful

Hebrews 13:5 “5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Fellowship from Christ

John 15:12 “12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

Friendship brings allegiance!

Love what he loves.

His people

John 13:35 “35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Love his church!

Sacrificial love

1 John 3:16 “16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Treat people like he did

Col 3:13 “13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

Love Souls

Jesus was sending these guys into the world to reap fruit

John 15:16 “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.”

Love the souls of people like Jesus did.

Look what is said of Paul

Acts 20:31 “31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

Jesus has also sent us

John 17:18 “18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.”

Friendship with Christ entails hating sin.

1 John 4:5 “5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.”

James 4:2-4 “2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

Focus is found in him

Jesus is a sharpening friend!

Proverbs 27:17 “17 Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

He gave revelation

John 15:15 “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.”

John 1:14 “14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

We know God by Jesus!

1 Tim 2:5 “5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

Hebrews 1:2 “2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”

Our spot as friends not servants

John15:14-15 “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.”

We obey not because we are forced to but because we are his friends

The difference between a servant and a friend is not between diligent obedience and disobedience (or even casual obedience). The difference is between understanding and not understanding. Because friends have a close relationship, they understand while servants do not.

Fruitfulness

Love him and his priorities and the result is fruitfulness.

The earlier part of this chapter is about abiding to be fruitful

We will want to abide with our friends.

Conc. You’ve got wonderful friend inJesus! Love him and what he loves!