“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
John 15:12-17
Do you remember the popular christian t-shirt of the early 2000’s?
A silhouette of Jesus with the words “Jesus Is My Homeboy”. I remember disliking that shirt then. If you read the scripture above and your main take-a-way is that Jesus says you are His friend, I’m not sure you really read the passage. Does Jesus call you “friend”? Yes… if you do what He commands and love one other. Not superficial love that is laced with conditions, HIS love. Love that lays itself down for others. You don’t get to decide if you’re a friend of Christ… He decides.
We utilize this scripture to make ourselves equals with Jesus. Buddies. Homeboys. Far from it. Those who are obedient to His commands, those who love the way He loves, those who lay themselves down and take up their cross, those He calls friend… they still call Him “Lord”! He referred to His disciples as friend with this scripture, but they still referred to Jesus as “Rabbi”.
The bride of Christ has got to stop trying to be equals with Christ and submit to His lordship. He’s not your homeboy.