Conclusion to the Series: “Becoming Friends with Jesus”

David W Palmer

(John 15:15 MSG) “I’m no longer calling you servants because Servants don’t understand What their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.”

This series began by looking at the tight intimate bond and love between Jesus and his Father, and how Jesus fully pleased his Father in all that he did. It ended with our opportunity to imitate Jesus in putting a smile on our heavenly Father’s face.

In between, we looked at the outworking of Jesus’s unshakeable friendship with his Father, and how he imparted the same relational value to his apprentice leaders. We also saw that some of them, and many others, had religious knowledge of doctrines, laws, dispensations, and truisms, without really knowing him. Others were focused on following Jesus, but were more task-oriented than love and relationship centered.

Jesus’s miracles, and testimonies by those who had received them, drew people to Jesus so they could know him.

As we followed Jesus through John 11–12, we see him walking in such relational closeness with his Father that he didn’t make any false steps—as that would have been fatal; he always had exactly the right words to say, and he knew when to act and precisely what to do. Jesus waited for light from his Father before saying anything or taking any action; we saw that he also teaches us to do the same: to prioritize love for God, submission to him, and to wait for light from him before we speak or take any action.

As we drew near the end of Jesus’s time with his apprentices, we saw him showing his complete security, his assurance of identity in God, and his perfect peace, knowing he was in his Father’s will; we see the King demonstrating the culture of his kingdom by washing the feet of his newly designated friends.

Scripture sums up his whole training program with his apprentices in the phrase: “He loved them till the end.” Love, friendship, and relational trust characterized Jesus whole apprenticeship program. He certainly made his trainees competent at ministry tasks and character requirements. But primarily, he made them into his friends through his love and by confiding in them.

Even throughout the Last Supper, we have much to learn from Jesus’s interaction with his beloved trainees. This is particularly highlighted in the way he maintained peaceful relationship with his Father, unruffled composure, and assured control, despite the ultimate disloyal treachery.

Jesus’s commitment to reveal his Father’s love, and to keep himself in perfect love with his team, was severely tested when one of his beloved trainees—Judas, the son of Simon—warped his calling and gifts to yield to Satan’s schemes. He had a God-given gift and aptitude for spiritual perception, but misused it to conceive Satan’s ploy rather than the Holy Spirit’s wisdom. This led him to betray Jesus for money.

Our amazing Lord and soon-returning King assures us that relationship with him—and loving intimacy like he demonstrated with his Father—is the guarantee of resurrection, being gathered to him at the end, and safe arrival into his kingdom eternally. He is personally the way, the truth, the life, and the resurrection. Knowing him, loving him, obeying him, and living for him 100% is the way to ensure we are included. We certainly don’t ever want to hear the words, “I never knew you.” We want to be included in the following statement:

(John 10:27–28 NKJV) “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. {28} And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

Jesus now commands us to love one another as he loves us.

As we conclude this series—Part 7 of the whole series: LEAD! Jesus’s Training Track for His Apprentice Leaders, Becoming Friends—let’s imitate our Lord’s attitude of embracing the cross in the passion of his love for his Father, his Father’s mission, and his love for us. Let’s also realize that we are his bride, and that he is excited about coming for us to take us to the place he has prepared for us. Let’s get ourselves ready for this, and readily accept the washing of water of the word to make us the glorious church, the spotless bride for whom he is returning.

I want to add; keep following your Good Shepherd, don’t ever quit, and eventually you will end where he is—his glorious destination.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. {12} Greet each other with Christian love. {13} All of God’s people here send you their greetings. {14} May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

—2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) 12–14 (NLT)

God bless you,

David W. Palmer

P.S. I will now be taking a break for a couple of weeks. Thank you for your participation and encouragement in these devotional teachings throughout the year.