Do You Have A Friendship With Jesus Shared?
Good Morning Friends,
Great truths might be simpler than we ever imagined. And this is true especially when it comes to relationships and joy on a conscious level but perhaps no so much on a subconscious level when it comes to race and tribe or class, for below the surface things get complicated. We live in a crazy world where things just do not make sense and our culture twists things in unhealthy ways. Society periodically changes the names given to groups many discriminate against. But people first language and new names, though helpful are not enough. Prejudice persists because of pride. Our culture confuses us with the lie that pride is good…Proud to be an American. Even Proud to be a Marine. And many other cultures follow this same path. And it seems right but the exclusivity by its very nature excludes those not in the club. And not to take anything away from a person’s rugged individualism, but there is a better way to prioritize our identity. Somehow Jesus worked all this out even though he was privileged in ways we cannot comprehend. He was empowered but humble, purposeful but not prideful with both principle and pragmatism. Perhaps the tipping point was that Jesus loved so much that he was willing to lay down his life for all of us. I think that changes the dynamic. It certainly seems to for brothers in battle. Of course, one does not have to understand all this to experience love, hope and joy. You see, Jesus sensed the deep desire of people to belong and especially so for those society rejects. Jesus’ personal historical narrative running in the background was all God. Unfortunately for us ours can be full of lies that we are better or worse than we really are. Relationships might not always help us to make sense out of the bewildering reality, but they make it bearable especially when it comes to the complex issue of our individualism overshadowing another person. Thankfully Christ worked this out for us to emulate. And it is about time we did because we have an epidemic of loneliness in the United States that goes beyond race and privilege. We need a connection and closeness to others that strengthens us spiritually. Do You Have A Friendship With Jesus Shared?
Scripture: In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘Let another take his position of overseer.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 (NRSV)
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
John 15:9-17 (NRSV)
But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6 (NRSV)
Message: Jesus says that the Father has loved him and so then he loves us though the Spirit. We are loved by the Father and Son and Holy Spirit each in a personal way and that gives us a solid footing for life that belongs to something greater. Here the footing should be so strong and our love so unconditional and kind that people mistake us for Jesus. That is our destiny. To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. Friends, if we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. We need to live the Word as life unfolds day to day so that on Judgement Day the Father will recognize us as not just friends but family. This is the foundation of the church…the foundation of family…. the foundation of community…the hope, joy and love of what it means to be a friend that pushes the boundaries of love. In a more fundamental sense, applying these teachings on a much more personal level, it is also true that all who follow Jesus have been chosen to be His witnesses, and commissioned to share His gospel with others. We all share a responsibility within the church to exercise our spiritual gifts for the furtherance of His kingdom. Friends, Jesus was privileged like no other and burdened with a task like no other. But unlike me and perhaps you as well, Jesus was not blinded by the subconscious. Now in today’s text from Acts we have the story of the replacement of Judas that I think relates to this understanding of who is in and who is out. The qualifications of Judas’ replacement was that he should be one of those who had accompanied the disciples from the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry right through to the ascension. He was also to be a witness with them to the resurrection, so it was imperative that he should have seen the risen Lord. The church chose two candidates. They prayed for the Lord’s choice between them and drew lots. Remember that the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon them. This is the last time in the Scriptural record that this Old Testament device was used. The lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven. And we never hear from him again in the canon of Scripture. Maybe Jesus wants us to look beyond the number twelve. Maybe friendship with Jesus is not such a roll of the dice.
And So, rooted in God’s love is not only leadership but also a friendship that is essential to the Kingdom work to which we have been called as disciples of Christ. And now we are to be led by the Holy Spirit in these relationships. We are to recognize the power of God’s love for us, which should compel us to passionately serve each other out of love. And so friends, take time to experience Christ’s Spirit in others. Open your heart to Him. Not that you have not. But seek to draw closer to Him as you experience His power and majesty. Soak in His love and grace. Seek His power and strength. Celebrate Jesus! Be passionate about Christ! Be excited about worshiping the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Friend beyond all other friendships. Being without friends is lonely and frustrating but it is even worse when Jesus is not one’s friend. He is there with you even now to give you peace of mind in times of trouble. He comforts us and leads us in the path of peace and joy. Jesus as a friend forever. He is a shoulder for us to cry on and truly understands and cares about us and all that concerns us. Jesus can make us smile and cry because he knows who we are and how lonely we would be without him.
Pray we see clearly and wholly. Pray
we have friends that let us think out loud. Pray we are living lives that count. Pray we are living lives that abide in a full relationship with God. Pray we are Christ centered, bearing fruit that glorifies God and are motived by a desire to be a friend to others in need. Pray we realize that Jesus never put a limit on the number of friends we should love. Pray our love stretch our advocacy for others. Pray our friendship with Jesus opens our hearts and minds to a holy relationship that develops relationships with others that make a difference. Pray we realize that though we may not all be Apostles we all have a role to play. Pray our prejudice be turned into acts of humble inclusion. Pray we have both principle and pragmatism but also pray we have the miracles of hope and love and joy and grace overflowing. Pray we have a common friend in Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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