Jesus: the Bloke, my Friend

12 May 2023 Reflection

“I shall no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know the Master’s business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from My Father.” - John 15:15

First, the prophet Isaiah wrote that God has called me by my name (Is 43:1); then it was Jesus Himself Who said He has called me as His friend. That in itself is already a mind-blowing reality. Imagine: the Creator of the whole universe, the Master Craftsman of all that is beautiful, the Merciful Redeemer, calling me His friend? It is indeed hard to fathom, but it is indeed true.

What would Jesus be like as a friend? Sometimes I wonder how He is as a modern bloke. Maybe He loves to go camping, or bushwalking, or doing road-trips. Maybe He is a good singer, or a good musician, or a good writer. Maybe He loves to explore food and go learn different cuisines. He definitely would love barbecues. Or tapas. Or tacos. But one thing I know about Him for sure is He is the type of bloke that everybody would love to hang out with.

In truth, some of His character are still manifesting today even after two thousand years since He walked, taught, and preached:

• He is intentional. He makes sure His presence is always known and felt. Want proof? The whole Bible pertains to His intention and His desire to be part of people’s lives. And it is not His nature to leave people hanging by a thread.

He always makes people encouraged, empowered, and emboldened to be the best version of themselves they can ever be.

• He is supportive. He does not mess with man’s free will. So every choice we make — the good, the bad, and the ugly — is not a result of Him dictating us.

We are free to do things of our own accord and of our own will.

• He is persistent. How many have turned away from Him and rejected His offer of friendship? Too many to count. And yet He still chases after them, consistently offering them His gift of eternal relationship. If only people knew how perfect of a bloke He is, I bet nobody would reject His offer.

The list goes on. Atheists have tried their hardest to disprove Jesus’ existence, saying that He is just another character in a popular story, and that He never really walked the earth.

I think they do not believe Jesus because they have not experienced Jesus at all.

If only they can open their hearts and their minds and allow the possibility of having a relationship with Him, I bet they would also like Him too.

Today’s passage provided me the reminder and the comfort that Jesus considers me His friend. He elevated my status in His kingdom, from just being a creature moulded from dust and clay, to being a slave, to being a friend and a brother. What a massive jump! It was like starting off as a janitor at a company then becoming an intern and then a part of the executive board in an instant. Such privilege and honour I was given. But too often I take this privilege for granted.

Judas, the most hated man in history, betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins. Jesus offered him friendship, he reciprocated with betrayal. But am I not worse than Judas? I should be the most hated person, not him. The fault he did was trade Jesus for thirty silver coins. I betray Jesus constantly and consistently and repeatedly. With my sins.

My sins pinned Him to the cross. My sins sharpened the nails that pierced His hands and feet. My sins sent Him to the grave.

Yet, it is also because of my sins that He chose to die on the cross. For me. Because He loves me. Such is His love that He did not want me to perish in my sins but to have life in unity with Him and Papa. He laid down His very life in my stead so that I can be reconciled and justified.

It is said that a relationship requires giving and taking, that in order for it to flourish, it needs to have the exchange of mutual emotions.

Jesus clearly gave me His all: His divinity, His humanity, His vulnerability, His very life.

What can I offer Him in return? He only asks for my heart. And He does not need my heart in a perfect state. He wants it as it is — broken, flawed, messy, disorderly, chaotic. He has the capacity and the power to work on it and transform it to the heart which fully conforms to His will. That is, if I want to. Even when He has sovereignty and authority to rule over everything, He still gives me the power to decide.

So today, I choose to give my heart to Him again. Unhesitatingly and unreservedly. I choose again to be His friend, and this time around, I will hold on firmly and faithfully to His friendship. It would be a great honour and privilege for me to declare that I walk with Jesus everyday, in every aspect of my being, despite all my circumstances, because I encountered His love and His grace.

Jesus is THE bloke I would love to hang out with for the rest of my earthly life. And I am so looking forward to hang out with Him in the next.

Dear Papa,

All praise and all thanksgiving to You for unraveling Your Word to me today. You revealed to me how deep Your love is by allowing Your only Son to lay down His life for me. Too often I forget You. Too often I take You for granted. But despite of it all, You still make the same choice. For me. It is part of my human nature to fail and sin and be weak. It is Your entire nature to love. And You invite me to embrace Your nature as well. So I pray that I do the same and become like You. Everyday. Even when it hurts already. Even when it might seem unnecessary. Even when I go unnoticed. Let Your love overflow in me, so that I can also show Your love to others. I give my heart to You, I submit to the very will You have for me. All these I pray in the name of Jesus, my Brother and Friend, along with the Holy Spirit, my Comforter and Consoler. Amen.