May 17, 2009 Message

John 15:9-17
“Friends”

Love is something, isn't it? We hear Jesus say, "As the Father has loved me so have I loved you," and then he says, "You are my friends – because I say you are.” It isn’t because his disciples have proven themselves or are such good guys. They are his friends – as we are – simply because he says so, and that’s the way it is! It may defy logic that this friendship doesn’t require something, but it doesn’t. Jesus calls us his friend anyway!

Today, "friends" are people with whom we share interests, we have fun, we enjoy the same things. But in Jesus’ time there was a different idea of friendship. A friend was somebody who helped you to be wise or to do the right thing. A friend could very easily have been someone who would help you to love God. Today, as friends, we are wrapped up in our common interests! Perhaps we need some help in today’s world in loving God. Jesus is our ultimate friend, helping us to be wise and good - to love God.

Jesus declares his followers his friends, like it or not, regardless of whether we've been a good friend in return or not. Have you ever had a friend like that? Can you think of someone who knew you before you knew yourself, who could care less what you have or have not done, who has stuck by you and always will, no matter what? Is there someone who has been a friend like that? That’s the kind of friend Jesus is.

Jesus was about to lay down his life for his friends. He was about to sacrifice his life for his friends. Imagine being there with him and hearing him say, "As the Father has loved me so I love you," and then calling us – friends! What do we do now? What can we do?

Well, the answer is probably lots of things, all of them really hard and maybe a little bit scary. But to these friends, Jesus said, "Go and bear fruit." Go bear fruit. Where does one go to bear fruit? The apostle Paul talked about the “fruit” of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Sometimes we feel that being good and bearing fruit is up to us; I do it! I'm good. And then God is pleased. But that’s not it at all. There is something John Wesley called "Sanctification" that suggests that it is not really my doing, but the work of the Spirit in me. Jesus knew all along I couldn’t bear fruit, so he had a plan for his friends (remember he called us all to be his friends). The Holy Spirit - a gift from him - working through me, would bear good fruit.

The graduates all across the country this year probably think they are prepared for what lies ahead. They believe, and rightly so, that knowledge and determination will be the keys to their success at whatever they do. We thought that too, didn’t we? And it’s still true today. Knowledge and determination are very important!

But when Jesus spoke to his disciples about their success in “bearing fruit,” what did he say? He said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” And then he added, “You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last…” There it is. That’s what is important. Love.

We are the Body of Christ, Jesus’ friends because he says so. On our own, we would never be fit, and yet we are – because Jesus says so. We can go and bear fruit, only because his Spirit, his love, his friendship, makes it happen. We love because he first loved us.

From Dr. Seuss’, Oh the Places You’ll Go.

“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.

You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy (or gal)
Who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets.
Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say,
“I don’t choose to go there.”

With your head full of brains
And your shoes full of feet,
You’re too smart to go down
Any not-so-good street.”

“Simple it’s not,
I’m afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper
to make up his mind.”

“You’ll get mixed up, of course,
As you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step,
Step with care and great tact
And remember that life’s
A great balancing act.

Just never forget
to be dexterous and deft
And never mix up
your right foot with your left.

You’re off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way.”

You’re off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way.”

Our Lord has great plans for each of us. He calls us his friends, whether we like it or not. He commands us to love, even when we can’t. And so we might “bear fruit,” the Spirit is at work in us all. May it continue to be at work in each of us. Amen.