Still Friends?
T. J. Hallock
John 15:9-17
September 22, 2002
In John 15 Jesus makes one of the most dynamic promises in the entire Gospel. If you have called on His name He has called you His friend. "I no longer call you servants... I have called you friends" (John 15:15). If you have accepted the King of Kings and Lord of Lords as your King and your Lord He has announced to the whole of creation, including every power and principality in heaven and on earth and under the earth, that you are His friend.
Imagine travelling to the front gates of the White House and while the guards are denying you entrance because they don't know you a voice shouts from an upstairs window, "Let him in; He's my friend." As you turn to see who is speaking the guards fling open the gates because that voice belongs to the President of the United States. If you have called on the name of Jesus the angels are swinging open the gates of heaven and the devil is running with his tail between his legs because a voice has just shouted from the throne, "Angels, let him in and devil let him go; He's my friend!"
Jesus doesn't take friendship lightly. He never confuses friendship with mere social acquaintance. He understands the cost and commitment of friendship and He has paid that cost and made that commitment. He loves you unconditionally and His love for you is more than mere lip service. "As the Father has loved me, so have I love you" (John 15:9).
The pure and self-sacrificing love of God compelled the One and Only Son of God to take the form of a servant and wash His disciples' feet. John 13:1 says, "Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them full extent of his love." His love for His friends drove the King of Kings to become the least of the least and engage in the filthiest task of the lowliest household servant. That's what Jesus does for His friends.
He also taught His disciples everything the Father had taught Him. He put ordinary men on the s ...
T. J. Hallock
John 15:9-17
September 22, 2002
In John 15 Jesus makes one of the most dynamic promises in the entire Gospel. If you have called on His name He has called you His friend. "I no longer call you servants... I have called you friends" (John 15:15). If you have accepted the King of Kings and Lord of Lords as your King and your Lord He has announced to the whole of creation, including every power and principality in heaven and on earth and under the earth, that you are His friend.
Imagine travelling to the front gates of the White House and while the guards are denying you entrance because they don't know you a voice shouts from an upstairs window, "Let him in; He's my friend." As you turn to see who is speaking the guards fling open the gates because that voice belongs to the President of the United States. If you have called on the name of Jesus the angels are swinging open the gates of heaven and the devil is running with his tail between his legs because a voice has just shouted from the throne, "Angels, let him in and devil let him go; He's my friend!"
Jesus doesn't take friendship lightly. He never confuses friendship with mere social acquaintance. He understands the cost and commitment of friendship and He has paid that cost and made that commitment. He loves you unconditionally and His love for you is more than mere lip service. "As the Father has loved me, so have I love you" (John 15:9).
The pure and self-sacrificing love of God compelled the One and Only Son of God to take the form of a servant and wash His disciples' feet. John 13:1 says, "Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them full extent of his love." His love for His friends drove the King of Kings to become the least of the least and engage in the filthiest task of the lowliest household servant. That's what Jesus does for His friends.
He also taught His disciples everything the Father had taught Him. He put ordinary men on the s ...
There are 9055 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
