When we go to work for an employer we exchange our work for a paycheck. With our obligation is an expected level of energy, effort, commitment, and reliability to the employer and the job we have agreed to do. Those who don’t follow this work ethic will likely cease to be employed. There is with this also an attitude of allegiance. Our Lord uses this kind of similar analogy when speaking to His disciples just prior to the cross. He tells His disciples in order to be abiding in His love they must keep His commandments (John 15:10). He lets them know that this abiding is a sphere, a place of incredible benefit and joy. He says, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15:11). What Christ is addressing is a condition and requirement for being His disciple. Just as an employer expects a level of effort from an employee, so our Lord expects effort in our spiritual relationship. This surprises some people. They have the mindset that God’s salvation is something to bring them heavenly benefit, but do not think in terms of allegiance to Him who died for sinners.

In this context our Lord commands the greatest degree of allegiance, which is love. He will establish the example for He says, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). He is saying that He will demonstrate His infinite love by dying on their behalf. He, therefore, expects reciprocal loving actions from them to one another and to Him. As there is no limit placed in God’s love for us, our obligation to Christ deserves all the affection and effort of our lives to be directed to please Him. While Jesus was giving this instruction, the disciples had in their memory Judas who had been with them for three years, stealing their money, deceiving them, and ultimately betraying the Savior. As Judas would later serve in their understanding as a contrast. The Lord goes on to say, “You are My friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). Our Lord here gives the clear mark of differentiation between His true friends and all others. This is a qualifier in the relationship to the Savior. A person cannot submit to God, while at the same time disobeying Him. If He is our Lord, we submit to Him in all things. Many years before Joshua had stated to Israel, “Choose you this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). This is a theme seen throughout the Word of God. Obedience does not earn salvation; it follows it in faith, proving that our salvation is real. All the religions of the world other than Christianity press harsh, unloving rules upon followers.  Whatever so-called deity, they are known by anger and detachment. By contrast, Christ dies for His own and only requires our faith, followed by loving allegiance, and even though He is God says I am your friend!

To us who are the privileged to be called out of darkness into His light, He calls us to show our faith by love and righteous devotion to Him. He promises a sanctified special relationship like no other. The creature has become a friend to his Creator. This is an infinite condescension of our Creator for us His creation.  A friend is one who is on good terms with another. This is directly the opposite of what we once were, as Paul tells us regarding Christ, “For while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son” (Rom. 5:10). Christ is therefore our all, our Savior, Master, and our closest Friend. He is our perfect Friend. No one compares with Him. Why would any thinking or reasoning person not nurture the relationship with such a Friend?  As the perfect Friend, He is our encouragement for prayer.  Will not such a true friend as Christ minister mercy for us His friends for whom He died?  We need to realize the incredible nature of our relationship with Him.

Even though we are friends, we are not equal. He is our God and our Master. That is why in this same context He will say, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you” (John 15:16). He is no ordinary or typical friend. As He is the God Man, He is also our God Friend. The hymn by Fanny Crosby, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer” gives a view of the intimate and special relationship Christ has with His own. The application of John 15 is that of serving Christ by abiding with Him, and knowing that He, as our omnipotent Friend, will provide all we need to live out our walk with Him and serve Him. We should all be reminded of our privileged relationship to Christ, and our joyful responsibility to please Him in all the circumstances of life. He, as our Friend, will never leave or forsake us. We have the benefit of continually communing with Him in prayer while knowing that He has all ability, and He promises to work all things for good to them that love Him. Oh, what a wonderful Savior is Jesus our Lord!