John 15:13-17

INTRODUCTION: "Friendship is the only cement that will hold the world together." Wouldn't life be miserable without friends. Everyone wants to think that they have at least one friend. Abraham Lincoln said, "The better part of one's life consists of his friendships."

Why are friends so important? A friend is one who is your ally in trouble. He is one to whom you can tell your troubles and deepest secrets, without fear of having them revealed. He is one who like you because you are you, and not for what he can get from you. "Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you" (Elbert Hubard)

With these facts in mind it is perfectly appropriate to think of Jesus as our best friend.

BODY

I. JESUS WAS A FRIEND TO ALL WHILE ON THE EARTH.

A. Jesus was a friend to Children.

1. Matthew 19:13-15 "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14- But Jesus said, =91Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' 15- And He laid His hands on them and departed from there."

2. Used little children as examples of the attitudes necessary for adults to enter the kingdom.

a. Matthew 18:1-4

B. Jesus was a friend to the Poor.

1. A proof of his messiahship

a. Matthew 11:1-5

2. Emptied himself and became poor in order to save the poor.

a. 2 Corinthians 8:9 - "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."

C. Jesus was a friend to the Sick.

1. Even when he wanted to rest himself he still found time for the sick.

a. Matthew 14:13-14 "When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 - "And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick."

D. Jesus was a friend to All Races.

1. John 4:4-42

2. He wanted to good news about him to be preached to all.

a. Matthew 28:19 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

3. Acts 15:9 - "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith."

II. IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY JESUS IS A FRIEND TO SINNERS.

A. Jesus laid down his life for Sinners.

1. Romans 5:6-8 "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7- For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

2. John 1:29 - "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

3. 1 Peter 1:18-19 "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19- but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

B. This was the good news that was Preached to Lost Sinners.

1. Acts 2:38

2. Acts 13:38 - "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;

3. Romans 1:16

C. This makes Jesus a friend to all of us, since We are all Sinners.

1. Romans 3:9-12 "What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10- As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; 11- There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12- They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."

2. Romans 3:23 - "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

3. Isaiah 64:6 - "But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away."

4. Jesus loves us all. He is touched with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).

A. How did he show his friendship?

1. John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

B. Jesus calls all men to be his friends.

1. Matthew 11:28-29 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest. 29- Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me , for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

2. Mark 16:15-16 and Matthew 28:18-20

a. "Every Creature" and "All Nations."

3. 1 Timothy 2:4 - who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

C. How do we become the friends of Jesus?

1. John 15:14 - "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

2. Matthew 7:21- "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22- Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23- And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"

D. What does Jesus call on us to do to be our friends?

1. We must believe that he is the Messiah.

a. John 8:24 - "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

2. Repent (turn away from) our sins.

a. Luke 13:3-5

3. Confess the name of Christ.

a. Matthew 10:32

4. Be baptized into Christ

a. Acts 2:38, 22:16