Proverbs 18:24 (17:17), Jesus, What A Friend!

December 7, Proverbs 18:24 (17:17)

John 15:14-15; 21:15-17; Heb. 2:11-18 “Is Jesus all the world to me?”

Jesus, What A Friend!

“Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all are agreed” (Cicero). But is friendship nothing but a calculation of benefits, a device for selfishness? True, Christianity did not create friendship, but it was transformed in the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the true Friend, “the One who loves,” and whose loving friendship knows no end (Jn. 13:1).

1. A Definitive Relationship: A man that has friends must show himself friendly. On the human plane, to gain affection, one must give affection; to be loved, one must show the purity of one’s love. To have friends we must honour their friendship. They should be happy to call us their friends. “Friendship, like a bird, has two wings.” I must be a friend to him who, is a friend to me, or I risk losing it. “Friends are like fiddle-strings, they must not be screwed too tight.” Don’t make excessive demands upon your friends. The friendship of Jonathan and David was a wonderful type of human love (1 Sam. 18:1). Yet, the friendship of Christ is friendship on the highest plane. It is based on a union with Him that transcends every blood tie (Lk. 14:26). He sticks closer than a brother, and He never forsakes His own. The definitive thing in Christ’s friendship is that He loves even when we are rebellious. He is the One Constant Friend to the end. After bidding farewell to his relations, Jonathan Edwards, when dying, said, “Now where is Jesus of Nazareth, my true and never-failing Friend?” Immediately, “the Friend born for adversity” came and led him through “the Valley of the shadow,” and gave him a place among “the shining ones.”

2. A Distinctive Relationship: Of two friends of Alexander the Great, the historian Plutarch called one Philo-Basileus, friend of the King; and the other, Philo-Alexandros, friend of Alexander (J. Stalker). Someone said Peter was Philo-Christos, friend of Christ, but John was Philo-Jesous, friend of Jesus. Note this vital distinction! Peter was attached to the person who filled the office of Messiah, John to the Person Himself. This distinction can be traced in believers through the centuries. Is your Christ just the Official, the Founder of Christianity, the Head of His Churches, or do you own Him as “Jesus, my dearest Friend; ’tis Thee I seek”? Remember, it is only this personal bond that holds our hearts. The true believer loves the Saviour for Himself alone, not from any selfish motive, either escape from hell, or for the hope of Heaven thereby.

“One there is above all others: Oh, how he loves!
His is love beyond a brother’s: Oh, how he loves!
Earthly friends may pain and grieve thee,-
One day kind, the next day leave thee;
But this friend will ne’er deceive thee: Oh, how he loves!”

Thought: “Jesus, our Redeemer and Friend, is immortal and unchangeable.”

Prayer: Lord, help me to truly say. Jesus is my dearest Friend.