When Christians think of out relationship with Jesus we most usually think of him as our saviour since we recognise our life would end in death and Jesus died to give us the opportunity to live forever with Him.

But, Jesus also told us to think of Him as our friend because He opens up Himself to us and relates to us as friends even though He is our God!

John 15:10-15 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus is the friend who gave up His life for us.

I once heard a testimonial in which the speaker described a friend in these terms.

"A friend is someone who will stick with you through any problem. A good friend is someone who will take away the evidence!"

It's an amusing concept but could also be said to have some insight when we consider what Jesus has done for us. I'll explain...

Have you ever seen one of those films where some people rob a bank and find that it's not just ordinary customers and businesses who are using the bank but that the Mafia controlled it and their money was in the bank also? As a result it's not just the Law but the Mafia also who were after their hides!

Well we were sinners and had the Law (of God) and the Maffia (Satan) both wanting to see us dead. The penalty for breaking the law (sin) is death and Satan comes only to 'steal, kill and destroy'. And with both these against us we had no power to get ourselves out of this mess. We didn't just need a friend, we needed a good friend!

This was our situation, but JESUS died on the cross for us and took away (removed) our sins and we only had to accept him as 'Lord' and 'Saviour' and 'Friend' and we would receive His help and be given 'eternal redemption'!

We had to believe on Jesus in other words; believe He was that 'good' friend who had given up His life for us and removed the evidence that would condemn us!

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

What a friend we have in Jesus!

Best wishes for Grace and the Peace of Jesus.
Attlee.