Friends of Jesus

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.

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.

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.

¹⁷ These things I command you, that ye love one another.

John 15:12-17 (KJV)

The “one another” in these verses is a reference to fellow believers. A distinguishing mark of being a follower of Christ is a deep, genuine love for brothers and sisters in Christ. The apostle John also reminds us of this fact elsewhere: “He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brothers and sisters.”

The command Jesus demonstrated Himself.

The Lord Himself repeated reminds us by command, not only by command, but He Himself is that example. Our Lord gave Himself in humility to love the most unlovable.

He chose to love us. We did not choose to love Him!

He loved us first in 1 John 4:19. This is the very reason also God found us, we did not find God.

We are friends of Jesus.

Of all the titles, fame, recognition, names or ways people can call you, it is a privilege to be called a friend of the Creator. In spite of our unworthiness and counting how much time we have failed, He was loyal as a friend.

Abide in Jesus.

As we come to the understanding of unquestioning obedience, we enter the reality of friendship with Jesus. Our relationship with God becomes a reality at the moment when real saving faith happens. However, our friendship is not automatic, but it is conditioned upon our obedience to His commands!

Our joy will be full.

This life will be full of betrayal, especially if you trust in the wrong people and be involved in the wrong crowd. But don’t be discouraged because we have a friend that is so loyal. He sacrificed Himself and laid His own life down for us willingly.

God is glorified in love and answering our prayers.

Every time we pray, we pray for will fit perfectly with His will and that He will grant our requests which is also the essence of Matthew 6:33.

The True Vine

Further down these verses is said the fruitless branches will He purge. These branches eat up resources taking in the same nutrients from the soil and the sunlight, the same as the fruitful branches. So, taking away the useless ones actually gives more resources and nourishing to fruitful branch.