John 15:14-17 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.… I. YOUR FRIENDSHIP IS SOUGHT BY JESUS CHRIST. That He might win it, He declares His own friendship. No matter how meanly you think of yourselves, there is One who seeks your friendship. Think who this One is. In His presence Socrates and Plato pale. The greatness of Alexander, of Hannibal, of Caesar, of Napoleon, of Washington is feeble indeed in comparison with His. II. THE GROUND UPON WHICH THIS FRIENDSHIP CAN BE BUILT UP. 1. By mutual confidence. This is a law of friendship. To strengthen their confidence He reveals the secrets of His heart to His disciples. He makes confidants of them. 2. By gratitude. Christ says, "All is thine." We answer back, "All that we have is Thine." III. THE FORMS OF THIS FRIENDSHIP. 1. Intercourse. We do not desire to be separated from our friends, but to be near them. 2. Remembrance. The human heart craves to be remembered. Is not this the meaning of tokens, even of the writing on gravestones? Friendship ministers to this want. It is met in the friendship of Christ. We are told that we are in His thoughts, that our very names are written on His hands. Is there anything more touching than Christ's desire to be remembered by His disciples after He would be gone? At our communion seasons we comply with this desire of Christ. 3. Desire to please. Hence, if our friends are below us we sink to their level. If Christ is our friend, we rise to Him, and become more and more like Him. Hence, not anything tends to such purity of life as love for Christ. 4. Mutual care. Christ cares for us, for our interests, protects us, and we care for His interests. If, as a scientist, I am set for the defence of the law of gravitation, I arrange my arguments and endeavour to convince the understanding. But when our friend is attacked then it is that the lip quivers and the blood boils. When Christianity is assailed it is more to us than the assailing of a system of principles; the interests of our dearest Friend are involved, and we are ready to make any sacrifice, even to the laying down of our lives, in their defence. IV. THE PROOF OF THIS FRIENDSHIP. Friendship does not spring from obedience, but obedience from friendship. What should we think of an admiral who would say, "I will take advantage of the fact that the President of the United States is my friend and will disregard his commands"? That would be unspeakably mean. The Christian does not presume on the friendship of Christ. That friendship holds him but the firmer to what is right. Note some of the characteristics of Christian obedience. It is — 1. Active and positive. The best way to meet the importunities to do wrong is to be fully occupied. "I have a great work to do. Why should I come down?" 2. Cheerful. The Christian has the friendship of the most powerful and beat Being in the universe; why should he not be cheerful in his obedience to that One? What parent would wish to see his child surly in his obedience? 3. Without reserve: "whatsoever." I know no earthly friend to whom I would say, "I will do whatsoever you command me." (John Hall, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. |
    |