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Jun 05, 2024 06:00am

He Calls Us Friend

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I remember the first time she said, “You don’t have to call me Coach any more. I’m Shannon.” At first, it felt wrong somehow. Like the universe was suddenly altered.

If she said it, I did it.

“On the line.

Quit reaching in.

Do not let her get past you.

Set it up again and this time run the play.”

Now, she calls me friend.

Although, to this day, if she yelled at me to hit the line, I would break out in a sweat.

John 15:14-17
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

The relationship between a master and servant was severe. It would be absurd for the Master to consult the servant on decisions, plans or discussions. The servant had a role to fulfill and it was to do as the master commanded. The master was lord over the servant.

What if all of a sudden the master called the servant his friend? What if he said, “let’s serve together”?

But this is exactly what Jesus said to His disciples, and what He says to those who choose to follow Him today.

Friend.

Jesus calls us friend. How crazy is that?

The Master! The Creator! The Lord of all! He chose us to be His friends! That’s incredible!

And as He is our Lord, we still honor Him by serving Him. But we’re not alone. As we serve, He’s right here with us.

Jesus calls us friend.