Friends not Servants

Friendship is a word that automatically produces the face of someone that we value. As you think about the ones that you call friend, can you remember the beginning of your relationship? Can you remember what brought you together? And can you imagine how different your life would be without this person in your life? We value friendships. Life is richer and fuller because of them. Some friendships last a short time and others last for decades. We are blessed through both. When friendship is missing there is something that is missing in our lives.

But friendships do not come easily for everyone. There is a certain amount of vulnerability required. There is a certain amount of transparency. And there must be a willingness to sacrifice in order to have a friendship. Too often our relationships remain superficial and casual. But a relationship that allows and encourages knowing the heart can be a friendship. Such relationships are too few in our world.

What may be difficult for us to conceive is that God not only adopts us as his children but he longs to engage us as friends. Friendship with God is a thought that may be overwhelming but one that isn’t new to us. Maintaining our worship of one who is far above us and yet walking this life with a closeness that is understood in terms of relationship is a difficult balance. The Holiness of God paired with the Friendship of God is an intriguing snapshot. As we study together today we are going to allow Jesus’ words to remind us that it is possible to hold on to this balance between holiness and friendship. Not only possible but welcomed and initiated by the God who is completely beyond us but who reaches down to us to bring us in closer relationship with him. Why? So that we who are filled with his love will help others to come to know this kind of God.

Connection

The text finds itself in the middle of a long discourse from the lips of Jesus. At the beginning of chapter 15, Jesus calls himself the true vine and God the gardener. By using the word “true” Jesus establishes that something “false” is present. There are a number of Old Testament texts which reveal that Israel was to be the vine but through her disobedience, she was not the vine that God wanted. Texts such as Isaiah 27:2–6; Jeremiah 2:21; 6:9; 12:10–13 and Ezekiel 15:1–8 all speak about God’s displeasure with Israel and of his desire to plant a vine that will produce good fruit.

It is in this light that Jesus speaks about himself as the true vine. Israel was not God’s vine; Jesus was and God was in control of the whole process. Isaiah 5 describes God as the vinedresser and Jesus acknowledges that his Father is the one who is overseeing the work of his son. God prunes away the branches which do not produce fruit. This pruning has a double purpose: to prune away the dead wood and to increase the growth of the fruit that remains. When we cut off the dead wood of a tree then the nutrients can go to the remaining areas increasing the growth. This is what God does.

Jesus is the true vine. And we are the extensions of Jesus. When we remain in him; when we absorb his words; then we are able to produce much fruit. Our ability to produce fruit comes from Jesus. We must choose to remain in him. Jesus says that remaining in him means that we remain in his love. And remaining in his love is seen in keeping his command to love each other. This command had been given previously in John 13 and is restated here to emphasize the connection between Jesus and his followers. But Jesus doesn’t give a command without a demonstration.

Jesus says I am going to show my love through the cross. Jesus says a man who really loves his friends is willing to give his life on their behalf. Friendship was significant in Jesus’ day. Even today to give your life for another is the mark of heroism which is not easily forgotten. Jesus calls his disciples friends which is a step or two above the word disciple. Verse 14 is intended to reveal that those who are friends with Jesus listen to him and obey him. It isn’t that obedience brings friendship with Jesus but that friendship with Jesus brings obedience.

Jesus continues that friends are given information that others are not. Servants do what they are told and have no choice. But with friends secrets are shared and revealed. The full intent of actions and direction is explained. Jesus says I have revealed everything to you. Did they understand? Do we? No. But Jesus has told us everything. Only two people have been called friends of God—Abraham in 2 Chronicles 20:7 and Isaiah 41:8; and Moses by implication in Exodus 33:11. But Jesus extends to all who listen to him; who abide in him the name friend.

Application

So what does this mean? First, look at verse 11. Joy. Jesus and God are intertwined. If we may overuse the vine image, there is a main branch but the shoots often wind around the main branch over and over again and it is difficult to tell where one begins and another ends. The relationship with God and Jesus is intertwined and that same type of relationship is offered to us as we remain in Jesus. The result is joy. Jesus was doing what God wanted him to do. This brought him joy. When we remain in Jesus just as he does with God then when we listen to Jesus we have joy.

Listening to Jesus; remaining in his word; following his ways; consumed in his love—this is the path to joy. Joy is gladness; it has to do with an attitude of contentment and peace. It is an inner satisfaction found in knowing that we are connected to the one who laid down his life for us. To follow our own path brings discontent. We find that we are not satisfied and search only for more. We are constantly seeking to be filled up with something more.

Second, to be friends with Jesus not only results in joy but a mission. Jesus says in verse 16 that he chose us not that we chose him. And with that choosing comes a commissioning. The word “appoint” carries the idea of a special task—to be set apart for a purpose. Jesus says he gives his friends a commission to bear fruit which will last. The natural understanding is in reference to making new converts. Our mission is to help others know our friend and to make a difference in the lives of others.

Jesus calls us his friends. His friendship is vital to us. He wants us to be like him. Bearing fruit means revealing our friendship with Jesus to those who do not know him. We cannot forget that Jesus laid down his life for us. Friends do that for each other. A need is met. A cry for help affects us. We do not forget such friendship.

Are you a friend to Jesus? Does your life reveal the joy of being intertwined with Jesus? Do those who know you know your friend?

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