Scripture:  John 15:9-17 (NRSV)
15:9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.
15:10 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.
15:11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
15:12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
15:13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15:15 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.
15:16 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.
15:17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

A homily preached by Daniel Love Glazer at Bethany Terrace Nursing Centre

May 10, 2015

I once heard a talk by a professor of psychology. He said that he used to survey his psychology students, asking them how many really good friends they had—how many friends with whom they could share their deepest joys and concerns.  Let me ask you, “How many friends do you think the students said? [responses were “one” “none” “two”]

Well, you are all right. Some said they had one such friend; some said two; many said they had none.

But we who are Christians, however many human friends we have, know of a certainty that we have a friend in Jesus. Jesus commanded us to love one another as he loves us. If we love one another as Jesus loves us, we will be his friends and he will tell us what the Father reveals to him. As Jesus said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” And Jesus’ love was so great that he laid down his life for his enemies.

Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” And “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.” And further, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

To know the joy that is in Jesus, we must share his love. And to share his love, we must share his service. To experience such service does not enable us to avoid the trials and tribulations of this world. No, it does not create a new world, but it does make the old world new.

Recall that when the apostles gathered for the meal that has become known as The Last Supper, they refused to wash the dust of the streets off one another’s feet. But then Jesus, their Master, himself washed their feet. This has been called the parable of divine love. In washing his apostles’ feet Jesus illustrated the command to love one another as he loves us. If we are willing to become fellow servants with Jesus in doing the Father’s will, then in the kingdom to come we will be with Jesus, still doing the Father’s will in future glory.

Jesus’ entire life demonstrates his dedication to others. Remember his words when he was nailed to the cross. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He could not have so lovingly and mercifully interceded for his executioners unless his whole life had been dominated by such thoughts of affectionate devotion.

Realize that what Jesus requires is not sacrifice, but affectionate service. Our service should not be considered a sacrifice; rather if we serve with wholehearted affection, our service is a joy. We must serve as friends and for friends. Friendship transcends duty. The service of a friend for a friend is not a sacrifice.  Jesus said “I have called you to be friends.”  If we live in him and his words live in us, we will be able to commune freely with him, and then can Jesus’ spirit so infuse us that we can ask whatever his spirit wills and do so with the assurance that the Father will answer our prayer.

Jesus does not insist that his followers believe in him, but rather that they believe with him, believe in the reality of the love of God and confidently accept the certain knowledge that they are children of the heavenly Father, who loves each one of us with an infinite love. Jesus desires that all his followers fully share his sublime faith. He challenged his followers not only to believe what he believed, but as he believed. This is the significance of his supreme requirement, “Follow me.” Let us follow Jesus by personally sharing his religious faith and entering into the spirit of his life of unselfish service.

 

Amen!