He really did! Jesus called us His friends.
“You are my friends if you do whatever I command.”
John 15:14 (WEB)
John is true blue. He loved God from a very early age. It is rare, isn’t it, when we hear of Christ followers who actually obey God’s plan for their lives.
Many of us simply get sidetracked or rebellious and choose lesser paths.
But not John.
Granted, he did get off to a great start. His parents taught him so much about the faith and our Savior.
Like everyone, John had to actually make the choice to keep following the precepts that he knew were right.
For him, there was just no other alternative. After all, in his heart he knew that Jesus had done so much for him-everything.
And then came the day when his faith was tested. He faced death for his commitment to the Savior.
Most believers are more likely to face tests related to simple daily living. Most often, our greatest trials aren’t associated with persecution.
Have you ever been in such a frightening or grievous predicament that you actually cried out to God, “Are you even there?”.
John did. Luke 7:19-20 (WEB)
There are saints all over the world who face this agony every day.
The believers who remain faithful, no matter what the test, follow a plan that is basic to Christianity. They don’t rely on themselves, their pocketbook, human relationships or any other resource than the Spirit of God and faith in the promises of Christ Jesus.
And that is what our friend John did.
Our friend, John the Baptist, (not the disciple) followed his Savior just like you and I should.
His life was written about in the prophecy of Isaiah 40:1–5; the synoptic Gospels of Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Mark 6:14-29, Luke 1:57-80, Luke 3:1–20 and mentioned in the gospel of John 1:32.
(John the disciple was the author of the Gospel of John, as well as 1, 2, & 3rd John and the book of Revelation).
You can deepen your walk with Jesus, too. Start with the Word. Study it to take it in, intentionally.
Take a passage from the Bible that teaches a specific lesson. For instance, Jesus taught how to stay connected to Him in a moment-by-moment relationship. Read John chapter 15. You know it: “I am the vine, and you are the branches.”
You could also apply the parables of Jesus to your life. Do any of them have a spiritual message for you?
Here is an example of a Bible study.
Read John 15:4-17. I have listed each command from Jesus that are in this passage.
Beginning with the first phrase below see if anything from the story of John’s life correlates to Jesus’ commands. I’ll give you two examples.
Command #1 states- “Remain in me” This command is found in John 15:4.
So, I read through John’s life story and found one answer in – Luke 1:80; You may find it in any other part of John’s life that reveals his spiritual relationship.
Command #8″…lay down your life for a friend.” –Mark 6:14-29. This one was pretty obvious. Although we won’t all be asked to give our life for the faith like John was, we would be willing to follow Christ wherever He leads us.
We remain in Jesus by daily reading His Word, praying, and listening for the Spirit’s guidance. We stay in Him through the Spirit who helps us to love, have fellowship with believers, and to confess our sins. He helps us keep God’s commands.
- 1 remain in me John 15:4
- 2 let my words remain in you John 15:7
- 3 bear much fruit; John 15:8
- 4 remain in my love John 15:9
- 5 keep my commandments, John 15:10
- 6 my joy may remain in you John 15:11
- 7 love one another John 15:12
- 8 lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
- 9 do whatever I command you John 15:14
- 10 you should go John 15:16
- 11 bear fruit John 15:16
“I command these things to you, that you may love one another.” John 15:17
What do you think?
Go and share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
World English Bible (WEB)
by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
