As things have started to open up from lockdown restrictions, many of us have enjoyed being back together with people. Whether that be at a coffee shop with a friend, a small group like our Family Hubs or in our larger Sunday morning gathering. We are realising that it makes a difference being in the presence of someone.

But it makes a difference whose presence we are in. Who we are with affects how we are, what we do and who we become. Other people affect our moods, our words and our actions. So it is essential that we are careful who we are in relationship with, who we are friends with.

The wonderful news is that there is an invitation offered to us – an invitation to an intimate transforming friendship with someone that will never let us down or leave us. An invitation to friendship with Jesus Christ, to be with him.

When Jesus calls the disciples he says to them “come and follow me” (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17) and “come and see” (John 1:39). The same call is offered to us, but we have to respond. We must choose to “Come and see” and to “come and follow.”

And before anything else in our journey of discipleship, the call of Jesus is first to be with him.  In Mark 3:14 it says of Jesus that “he appointed twelve that they might be with him.”

John 15 shows us what it means to be friends with Jesus. At this point in the story Jesus has journeyed with his disciples up and down many roads. He has eaten with them, walked and talked with them, encouraged them, challenged them. The result is an intimate friendship with Jesus. He says, “Now you are my friends” (v15).

This is his call to us! How do we respond? He says to them:

“You are my friends if you do what I command”

(v14).

This may seem odd to us. The idea that someone might dictate terms of a friendship seems to go against our culture and against a gospel of grace. But this is not the case with Jesus. For his commands are not oppressive; they are not there to put us down or to exert rule and order over us. They are there to bring us life!

A glance through the New Testament shows us what Jesus commands: love God, love one another, be kind, gracious, humble, non-judgemental, show compassion. These are the commands of Jesus.

We lay down ourselves, our own attitudes, thoughts, ambitions to embrace a friendship with Jesus. It is not legalistic. The commands of Jesus are all about throwing off that what gets in the way and entangles us and embraces that which draws us closer to him. The result? “..joy overflowing” (v11).

This is not a one-time thing. It is an ongoing, everyday friendship. We must cultivate it and ensure busyness doesn’t get in the way. We should walk with him, read the scriptures, spend time in prayer – simply listening without a big list of requests.

“Spiritual Practices at their best are practices of friendship”

Trevor Hudson

Don’t give up because this is what will sustain you in the long term (see John 16:1). Lean into him and he will transform you to be more like him.

His call is open to all no matter what our background, history, circumstance. In Matthew 26 as Jesus is being betrayed by Judas he still extends the hand of friendship; “My friend” he says (v.50). But we must choose how to respond to his kindness.

‘Nothing can separate us from the love of God….that is in Christ Jesus;’

Romans 8:39

How will we respond to the call of friendship today?

Dan Lush

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