Jesus is the dearest friend I know
John 15:13-17

Audio Link: Jesus Is the Dearest Friend I Know

Some of you may wonder, "Why do we have to have a Korean pastor?" I have not come here as a Korean, but in the name of Jesus Christ. I want to be your friend for the purpose of serving God. I look forward to a good friendship between this congregation and my family, so this is why I have prepared a sermon for you today about friendship. As a follower of Christ, I hope we may learn about the friendship Jesus set for us.

We live in a society today that is lonely and isolated. We have lost our connection with one another. We drive to work alone in our car (that is why there is HOV line on the highway), work all day in our office, get cash at the ATM, get lunch at the drive through, enjoy the computer game or internet chatting, and spend the night watching TV. No wonder so many of us feel alone.

We need relationships. We need contact with other humans. Without contact, we despair. We need friends. That is how we are made up. We need relationships and friends. However, it is very difficult to find a true friend.

One man identified a real friend as "The one who steps in when everybody else steps out." It is a blessing to have good friends. Many of us are blessed with at least one good friend. Some of us are fortunate enough to have many. I hope that you have many good friends.

A few years back, Pepper Rodgers was in the middle of a terrible season as football coach at UCLA. It even got so bad that it upset his home life. He recalls, "My dog was my only friend. I told my wife that a man needs at least two good friends…. and she bought me another dog."

In today's Scripture, Jesus called his disciples friends, "I no longer call you servants; instead, I have called you friends." Can Jesus be our friend? Even though I knew this verse and read it many times before, I just understood this as a regular friendship between man and man Jesus is our friend such as the friendship between David and Jonathan in the Old Testament. I never seriously thought about this verse as a relationship between Jesus and I. Have you ever considered Jesus to be your friend? Perhaps you have never thought of Jesus in that way.

Jesus is our Savior. He is our Master. He is the eternal God who came to this earth and was made a man. Jesus is the Son of God who offered Himself as a sacrifice on Calvary for our sins. He who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteous of God in Him. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day; thereby proving Himself to be both the Son of God and God the Son. Jesus ascended into heaven and took His place on the throne at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus is our ruler, judge, and King. But is he our friend? Would you be comfortable talking to him the way you do to your friends in "your language?"

However, today's Scripture says that Jesus can be our friend. He wants to share Himself with us. He wants to be our friend. Jesus is the one who loves His friends. How much does He love his friends? In today's Scripture, Jesus says, "The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends." "Wow!" Die for his friends! Jesus not only died for his friends, but for his enemies, the people who hated him. What was the deepest experience of friendship you ever experienced?"

When I reflected on my personal friendships, I realized that I only once had given my blood to my friend who was suffering from Leukemia. I had once given $1,000 to my friend who was struggling with financial problems. I had often treated my friends to a good meal. I had frequently given a precious and expensive gift to my friend. I willingly can help my friends. I can sing for my good friends. I will pray for my best friends. However, I never thought about dying for a friend. I don't even think about it. I cannot imagine that. That is totally impossible. How can I die for my friend?

Jim was the Navy captain of a large transport and was making his way across the Atlantic during World War II. His transport was loaded with hundreds of boys on the day that an enemy submarine rose in the sea close by. A torpedo was headed directly toward his ship. With no time to change course, he shouted through the loudspeaker, "Boys, this is it!"

Jim was traveling with a smaller escorting destroyer. When the captain of that destroyer saw the torpedo, he gave the order, "Full speed ahead." The escort destroyer plunged into the path of the torpedo, purposely taking the place of the large transport. The weapon hit its target and every man on the destroyer was lost. The skipper of the destroyer was Jim's best friend, Bob. Jim witnessed the most incredible sacrifice a friend can make: to give his own life for a friend (John 15:13).

It is extremely difficult to die for a friend. But that is exactly what Jesus did. He called us as friends and He died on the cross for us! Jesus loved us enough to give Himself as a sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Jesus died for you and me, because He considered us to be His friends. And Jesus said that you could have no greater love for anyone than this. Jesus just didn't talk about His love; He proved it. He showed the greatest love towards us. Do you have a friend like that?

Friendships are important, but they don't always last. The friends I had as a kid are long gone. The friends I had as a teenager are a distance away. Even many of the friends that I have had as an adult have drifted away. Jesus knows us and loves us. He stands by for us. He cares about our weakness and loneliness. Jesus will always be there for us. He wants to be our friend.

Here's Jesus' promise to you! "When you are sad…I will dry your tears. When you are Jesus Christ is our life-giving friend scared…I will comfort your fears…when you are worried…I will give you hope…And when you are lost and cannot see the light…I shall be your beacon, shinning ever so bright. This is my promise, I pledge till the end. 'Why?' you may ask…because you are my friend."

We were sinners; we will never be Jesus' friends; but he has honored us by calling us His friends. He loved us so much that He even gave His life for us. Jesus is the best friend to all us - the real friend for life - the life-giving friend.

Have you ever had a "good friend?" The good news is that Jesus wants to be your best friend. He wants you to receive Him and have a rich, deep relationship with Him as your closest friend, which will last an eternity. If you already made a good friendship with Christ, get to know Him better. And if you have not made a friendship with Christ, let me plead with you to come to Him today as friend.

Make Him your best friend. Jesus can be your friend today.

Let us pray. We rejoice today that we are Your friends, dear God, and not just your servants. We rejoice that you have chosen us for this special, intimate relationship with You and each other. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Jesus is the dearest friend I know John 15:13-17

Audio Link: Jesus Is the Dearest Friend I Know

Make Him your best friend. Jesus can be your friend today.

Jesus Is the Dearest Friend I Know - Audio Sermon On-line - Reverend KyungMo Koo

Jesus is the dearest friend I know
John 15:13-17