My Jesus, My Friend
The sweet friendship of God
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John 15:14-15 You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
What does it mean to have Jesus as a friend?
In John 15, Jesus is speaking to His followers about discipleship. In verse 14, Jesus says that we are His friends if we obey. Out of context, this seems like a strange idea, considering most of us don’t look at obedience as being a prerequisite of friendship.
Backing up to verse 12, however, we gain insight:
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are My friends if you do what I command.
In verse 17 He says it again:
This is My command: Love each other.
So, to obey, to be His friend, we must love each other as He has loved us.
A self-sacrificial love.
But with the self-sacrifice we gain an upgrade! Verse 15 says,
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know His master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Friendship with Jesus is a partnership.
He reveals everything He has learned from God the Father.
When we obey Jesus by loving each other like He loves us, we enjoy His friendship and a partnership with Him in life.
When we love others like Jesus loves us, we enjoy His friendship
and a partnership with Him in life.
Lord, thank You for calling me Your friend, and for making all of Your love and wisdom available to me. Help me to love others the way You love me.
John 15:12-15 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
Proverbs 18:24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
Click below to listen.
My Jesus, My Friend
I don’t understand
Why life has been the way it’s been
Thank God I’ve always had a friend
In You, JesusI stumble into sin
And then You pull me out again
Cause I’ve always had a friend
In You, JesusIn my weaknesses, at my worst
You have loved me best, You loved me first
There’s nothing I did to deserve
All that You’ve done for me
So I thank You
My Jesus, my friendYou’re the constant thread
With a love that never ends
Because I’ve always had a friend
In You, JesusIn my weaknesses, at my worst
You have loved me best, You loved me first
There’s nothing I did to deserve
All that You’ve done for me
So I thank You
My Jesus, my friendThere’s no one more faithful than You
You’re closer than a brother
Closer than the air I breatheWhat a friend I have in Jesus
All my sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to You in prayerIn my weaknesses, at my worst
You have loved me best, You loved me first
There’s nothing I did to deserve
All that You’ve done for me
So I thank You, my Jesus
I thank You, my Jesus
I thank You
My Jesus, my friend
My Jesus, My Friend
Amy Hooper ©2024 Walking Dichotomy Music (ASCAP)
Based on What A Friend We Have In Jesus by Joseph Scriven, Charles Converse. Public Domain.
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Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (R) NIV (R) ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Songwriter Notes: I wrote this song in a season of feeling alone and misunderstood, except for the abundant love of God. His kindness was just so near, and I was truly so grateful that He was with me.
This song is beautiful! Leading me into prayers of gratitude that Jesus is my friend! 💕💕
I love this whole series, leading us into your moment and then into worship alongside you. Very cool, Amy.