Our Very Best Friend (John 15)
This sermon explores the profound and intimate nature of Jesus' friendship, inviting listeners to consider Him not only as Lord and Savior but as their closest companion. It delves into John 15 to illuminate how Jesus demonstrates a unique, unfailing love and desire for deep relationship with each person.
Jesus Christ is presented as the ultimate friend who never fails, demonstrates sacrificial love, takes the initiative in relationship, reveals God's heart, and challenges us to reach our full potential. He offers an intimate friendship unlike any other.
Overview
The sermon begins by contrasting human friendships, which often involve misunderstandings, disappointments, and rejection, with a unique friend: Jesus. Jesus, the Son of the living God, is introduced as the one who will never misunderstand, disappoint, reject, or leave us alone.
Drawing from John 15, the preacher explains how Jesus discusses His friendship with us, moving beyond the concept of master and slave to one of intimate companionship. He notes that many see Jesus as Savior or Lord, but often overlook His desire to be a personal friend, who is the ultimate ruler and creator.
Jesus demonstrates His friendship through sacrificial love, laying down His life for us when we were enemies. He also takes the initiative in this relationship, choosing us first and coming to earth to walk among men, relating even to the most obnoxious and rejected people in society.
Furthermore, Jesus expresses His friendship by revealing the Father's heart to us, treating us as confidantes rather than slaves. He also challenges us to become our best, bear fruit, and love one another, transforming our lives through this deep relationship, which provides life at its very best.
Key points
- Human friendships are prone to misunderstandings, disappointments, and feelings of rejection.
- Jesus is introduced as the best friend ever, who will never misunderstand, disappoint, reject, or leave us alone.
- In John 15, Jesus states, "No longer do I call you slaves... but I've called you friends," revealing the Father's plans to us.
- Jesus expresses His friendship through His sacrificial love, uniquely laying down His life for our sins.
- He takes the initiative in friendship, choosing us first and demonstrating unconditional love.
- Jesus' friendship has a revolutionary effect, transforming our lives and increasing our capacity to love others.
- He challenges His friends to become their best, go and bear fruit, which includes the fruit of the Spirit and good works.
In Charles Stanley's words
“He will never misunderstand you, He will never disappoint you, He will never reject you, nor will you ever find yourself standing all alone.”
“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I've called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
“To live your life without Him is a tragedy when you can live your life and understand and experience life at its very, very best because that's what He has in store for us.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: The Uniqueness of Jesus' Friendship
- A. Human friendships are often marked by disappointment and rejection.
- B. Jesus is a friend unlike any other, who never fails.
- II. Jesus Defines His Friendship (John 15:12-16)
- A. His commandment: Love one another as He loved us (John 15:12).
- B. The ultimate love: Laying down one's life for friends (John 15:13).
- C. We are His friends if we do what He commands (John 15:14).
- D. From slaves to friends: He reveals the Father's heart to us (John 15:15).
- E. He chose us, appointing us to bear lasting fruit (John 15:16).
- III. How Jesus Expresses His Friendship to Us
- A. Through His sacrificial love
- 1. He laid down His life for us when we were His enemies.
- 2. His death alone can save our souls.
- B. By taking the initiative in the relationship
- 1. "You didn't choose Me but I chose you." (John 15:16).
- 2. He came to earth to demonstrate His relational nature.
- 3. He reached out to sinners and outcasts.
- C. By the revolutionary effect it has on our lives (Revealing His Heart)
- 1. He shares intimate knowledge from the Father, not treating us as slaves.
- 2. He enables us to love others sacrificially.
- D. By challenging us to become our best
- 1. He desires us to reach our full potential.
- 2. He appointed us to bear fruit of the Spirit and good works.
- IV. Our Personal Response to Jesus' Friendship
- A. Many may not see Jesus as a friend, or ignore His invitation.
- B. The tragedy of dying without Jesus as a friend: eternal separation.
- C. For non-Christians: Trust Him as Savior to become His friend.
- D. For believers: Acknowledge and embrace His intimate, available friendship with love, obedience, and service.
Scripture references
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
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.
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.
Insights
True friendship with Jesus reshapes how we view every relationship.
The deepest love gives itself away, even for those who are enemies.
God's initiative in friendship invites us into His closest circle.
Questions & answers
What makes Jesus a unique friend compared to human friends?
Jesus is unique because He will never misunderstand, disappoint, reject, or leave us alone, unlike human friends who can cause pain through these experiences. He is the ultimate, sovereign creator yet desires intimate friendship.
How does Jesus demonstrate His sacrificial love as a friend?
Jesus demonstrates His sacrificial love by laying down His life on the cross for our sins, something no one else could do to save our souls. He did this when we were enemies, desiring to make us His friends.
What does it mean that Jesus takes the initiative in friendship?
Jesus takes the initiative by choosing us first, as stated in John 15:16, "You didn't choose Me but I chose you." He came to earth and pursued a relationship with humanity out of unconditional love, without us earning it.
How does Jesus treat His friends differently from slaves?
Jesus calls His followers friends, not slaves, because He reveals all things He has heard from the Father to them. Slaves do not know their master's plans, but friends are brought into confidence and intimacy.
What is the "revolutionary effect" of recognizing Jesus as a friend?
Recognizing Jesus as a friend transforms our perspective, bringing Him from a distant figure to our level, enabling a more intimate relationship. This intimacy also increases our capacity to love others with sacrificial love.
What is the preacher's warning about not having Jesus as a friend?
The preacher warns that to die without Jesus as a friend leads to eternal separation from the One who loved us so much. Living life without Him is considered a tragedy when one could experience life at its very best with Him.
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