The title of this short article is ‘Jesus, My Friend’. That’s a huge claim to make, but it is true, and the same can be said for all Christians, i.e., those who believe, trust, and obey Him (John 15:14).

This friendship is not extraordinary for the believer, but for those who do not know Him and are not known by Him (1 Corinthians 8:3; Galatians 4:9) the claim of friendship with Jesus sounds ridiculous; they reason Christians must be deluded or insane! At best, they credit them with believing in the supernatural. Indeed it is miraculous, because the Holy Spirit brings this relationship into being by imparting new spiritual life to those who are spiritually dead (John 3:3-7) in their trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1). Thus they are born again in the Spirit, and are given this relationship. There is no difference in this respect between Christian men and women, because all are in Christ (Colossians 3:11).

As they grow and mature in their knowledge and experience of their new relationship with Jesus they learn more about Him and His Father. They begin to appreciate more fully their adoption by the Father (Galatians 4:4-7) and what it means to be a brother [or sister] of Jesus who makes them His friends. Furthermore because they are in Christ (Ephesians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:14) He brings them into a close relationship with His ‘Abba’ Father – His ‘Daddy’ Father (Galatians 4:6).

None of this is of the making of the adoptees; it is all of Jesus, who brings it about through the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 10:12). The fact is, there is no sex in heaven. Jesus tells us that His saints will be like the angels who do not marry (Matthew 22:30). There will be a finite number [the elect] who will have an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11, 14) in the new earth (Revelation 21:1), and as they will be eternal creatures (John 5:24; 17:3) there will be no need for procreation. As they sojourn on earth, prior to dying and their souls going to be with Jesus, they have the great privilege of being His friends. He said, ‘“You are My friends (John 15:14) if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you that you should go and bear fruit ….. (John 15:14-16)”’.

Jesus said to His disciples, ‘“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do (Luke 12:4)”’. He also said, ‘“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13)”’, and not only did He say these words, but He laid down His own life for His friends.

Hymn: ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’, by Joseph M. Scriven

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Saviour, Thou hast promised

Thou wilt all our burdens bear;

May we ever, Lord, be bringing

All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright, unclouded,

There will be no need for prayer—

Rapture, praise, and endless worship

Will be our sweet portion there.