FRIENDS WITH JESUS, OR JUST ACQUAINTANCES AND SERVANTS OF JESUS?

SCRIPTURES: JOHN 11:11b; 15:13-15

JOHN 11

11b …Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

JOHN 15

13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
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.

HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN JUST ACQUAINTED WITH ANOTHER?

1. Acquaintances recognize each other–but may not remember each other’s
names at times.
2. Acquaintances speak to each other, and may share superficial things.
3. Acquaintances are almost always polite to each other and show respect one to the other.
4. Acquaintances may at times work on the same projects, do some things together, but not very often –not regularly.
5. Acquaintances don’t usually seek each other out unless for some personal gain or advantage.

HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN A SERVANT TO ANOTHER?

1. Servants usually can claim no ownership of their master’s possessions–can claim no inheritance.
2. Servants generally have no real personal relationship with their master–are not an intimate part of the master’s “in group.”
3. Servants do not share in the overall purposes and missions of their master’s projects and functions.
4. Servants usually do their master’s bidding only for favors and wages.
5. Servants may have to sacrifice their personal interests and well being in the interests of their master’s interests and well being, and just try to please
their masters even at their own displeasure, hurt, and harm.

HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN A FRIEND WITH ANOTHER?

1. Friends share.
2. Friends don’t keep secrets one from the other.
3. Friends are interested in each other’s welfare.
4. Friends sacrifice for each other.
5. Friends enjoy the company of each other.
6. Friends can work together in harmony.
7. Friends love each other.

In today’s first Scripture, Jesus called Lazarus a friend. We do not know too much about their relationship except Jesus seemingly stayed at Lazarus’ home at times and ate with him at times. Evidently something more than that, similar to what I mentioned above, went on between them in their lives. In the second Scripture, Jesus told his disciples that they could be his friends and not just his servants–if they would obey his commandments. Then he told them that he had tried to be their friend by sharing with them all that that the Father had told him. The next move was up to them. He then went on to tell them that they had not chosen him to be friends with him, but that he had chosen them, and ordained them, that they should go forth and bear fruit in such a way that whatever they would ask the Father in the name of Jesus that the Father might give it to them. I think that Jesus was letting them know that such would not happen unless they became his friends.

This is the key. If we really want to have our prayers answered for ourselves and for others, we can’t just be acquaintances of Jesus. We just can’t be servants of Jesus. We must become and be friends with Jesus. Not being friends with Jesus is the main reason many of the prayers of Christians are not answered and is why Jesus will not share spiritual gifts with some Christians for the benefit of themselves and for the benefit of others.

Becoming a friend of Jesus should not be as hard as some people think. Jesus has done so much for us.

1. He sacrificed his life for us to pay for our sins.
2. He made it possible for us to have eternal life and live with him.
3. He has let us know that he is willing to let us rule with him on the earth for a thousand years–if we meet certain conditions.
4. He let us know that he has done all he can do to try to make us his friends–he has chosen us and we have not chosen him.
5. Jesus has let us know that God has blessed us through Jesus in all the good things that we have, and that without him we can do nothing.
6. He now is telling us that it is now up to us, and that if we do what he asks and become his friends, we can ask what we will of the Father for ourselves and
for others, and it will not be denied us.