I am Christ's Friend

John 15:15 says "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."

Even though Jesus could play the Lord and Master card – and rightly so – commanding us to do what He says, He does not. He says, "I have called you friends". Why? Because we know what our master is doing. We understand what it’s all about. As born again believers in Jesus, we have come out of darkness into the light. We understand that we, as human beings are dead in our sin, separated from God, and very much in need of the salvation only Christ can provide. We understand the difference Jesus has made in our lives and the incredible blessings we have as children of God.

We also understand how important it is that WE do all that WE can to help others find Christ. So, it's not like Jesus should have to command us to live our lives as a light to the world, we should have the same burden He has. Therefore, it is like friends working together.

Have you ever worked on a project with a friend? I mean hard work, long hours, but it didn’t seem like it because you enjoyed being together and had some gain in that project? I worked for a couple of years with my friend Mike McKeon that you've probably heard me talk about. It was the best secular job I ever had. The actual labor wasn’t all that exciting. But I looked forward to my job every day – except Fridays when I spent the day by myself in one particular account putting product on shelves all day. I did some of the same work on other days, but it was different when there was someone with me whose company I enjoyed.

And what does it say in the great commission, the mission statement of the church?

Matthew 28:19–20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And then Jesus said, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

He did not say, “I am Lord – you do as I say!” What He was saying is, "Follow me, follow my lead, work with me. Let me reproduce myself in you, and let’s enjoy the fruit of our labors together in glory forever."  Amen?