Friendship with Christ
Observe:
I. That the overtures of this friendship came first from Christ Himself, had their spring in considerations which could have originated with the Divine mind alone, whilst the proof of His own earnest desire to bring about such friendship is the very strongest that could be given. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Who are Christ's friends? And the answer returned by our text is significant "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." Friends, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, do not give commands at all. The relation commonly supposes something of equality, with no allowed subjection on either side, but maintained chiefly by offices of reciprocated kindness. But Christ had towards His disciples a prior relationship of Lord and Master, and therefore He is anxious to show that in receiving them into His friendship He does not thereby cancel their previous obligation to obedience and service. The friendship, then, which Christ has towards His disciples is manifestly only that of a sovereign towards certain subjects whom He admits to approach Him on some footing of condescending intimacy and confidence.
II. Assuming that we understand the nature of friendship with Christ, and in heart and purpose desire to comply with the required terms of it, let us see, in the next place, how this friendship is reciprocated by Christ, by considering some of the ways in which He shows Himself friendly to us. (1) He will be a counsellor to us in difficulties. "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor." (2) He is a friend that giveth gifts; enhancing the value of His advice by supplying the means to follow it. Two things always go together in the Gospel Repentance and Faith. These are Christ's gifts to His chosen ones. (3) The Lord shows Himself friendly in the methods and extent of His forgiveness. His forgiveness is as full as it is free, and as free as it is full. (4) It is a part of true friendship to be with us in the hour when health and strength are failing, when body and soul are parting, when the dust is returning to the earth as it was, and the spirit is returning to God who gave it. The proofs of the power of the friendship of our Divine Master increase with the exigency of the occasion, are most comforting when all other friendships fail.
D. Moore, Penny Pulpit,No. 3141.
References: John 15:14. W. Anderson, Discourses,p. 214; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxvi., No. 1552; H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit,vol. ix., p. 132; E. Johnson, Ibid.,vol. xv., p. 357. John 15:14; John 15:15. Ibid.,vol. xxv., p. 299; H. W. Beecher, Ibid.,vol. xxvi., p. 251. Joh 15:15. E. L. Hull, Sermons,3rd series, p. 141; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. i., p. 111; vol. xv., p. 26; H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit,vol. x., pp. 123, 376; J. Ker, Ibid.,vol. xxviii., p. 220; H. W. Beecher, Ibid.,p. 339; vol. xxx., p. 372; Bishop Thorold, The Yoke of Christ,p. 103; E. Paxton Hood, Dark Sayings on a Harp,p. 295; T. M. Herbert, Sketches of Sermons,p. 306. John 15:16. Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 61; A. Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer,p. 172; W. P. Lockhart, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxvii., p. 136.