Re:Verse reading–John 15:9-17 (day one)
“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what the Master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”–v 15.
If you have one friend over the course of your years, you are blessed. Jesus knew. After three years, and before He died, He used a new description for the disciples. Slaves/servants? OK, but not exactly. Friends? Much better!
The basis for friendship is shared life. Lovers look at each other. Friends look out on the world with each other. Eros is face to face. Philos (friendship) is shoulder to shoulder (C.S. Lewis).
So, Jesus called the disciples His friends because they (now) knew what the Father had told him. No secrets. Full disclosure. They stood together in the same truth. United. Loyal.
Isn’t this what we all want with the Lord?
Servants rarely are loyal. True friends are!! True friends will stay to the end even when circumstances have changed on them. True friends stay committed and unchanged and be there for you when all the opportunity doors are closed in front and behind you. True friends are loyal to the end. They focus on long lasting friendship and not materials or fame. Strong believers will stay with Christian beliefs and values and they will do God’s will. They follow Jesus!!
Phuong Le Callaway, PHD, CA
I could not agree more, “Philos (friendship) is shoulder to shoulder (C.S. Lewis).” True friendship is timeless and adds value to survival.
Phuong Le Callaway, PHD, CA