The first two lessons teach that a friend loves no matter what and a friend helps you believe. Truly Jesus proved he loved no matter what by taking upon himself the sin of every human being and dying on the cross. He taught his followers that he would die but that he would rise again. He spent time showing them who he was - the Son of God, the Messiah - but, even Peter who walked on the water with Jesus had difficulty wrapping his head around the idea that Jesus would rise from the dead! Thomas refused to believe that Jesus was alive and insisted on seeing the wounds before he'd believe.
When I read the stories of how the people who knew Jesus best reacted when he appeared to them after his resurrection, I have to chuckle. I wonder if Jesus ever wanted to say, "Well, duh! I told you no grave could hold me! Didn't you believe me!" Instead, he patiently revealed himself to them again and again before commissioning them to be witnesses to the world (Mark 16:14-16). He loved them no matter how frustrating they were in their unbelief, and he took every effort to ensure that they did believe.
Jesus sets the bar high for being a friend! I don't mind being with people as long as they are enjoyable and trustworthy! It's when they start being problematic that I want to cut and run. Yet, Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity," and we are to lay down our lives for our friends (John 15:13). But Jesus's kind of friendship goes beyond how we treat people we like. We're told it's nothing special to show love to people we love; the real deal is when we love those who aren't so easy to love (Luke 6:27-35). That's the example of friendship Jesus set for us to follow.
I recall the words to an old worship chorus that says, "To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus; All I ask, to be like Him...." When I put into context what that lyric is saying, I wonder if I could sing it and really mean it. If I want to be like Jesus, and I do, then I'm going to have to work on my friendship skills! Thankfully, Jesus patiently teaches me to be a friend by loving me no matter what and helping me to believe. He treats me the way he expects me to treat others.
As we seek to be like Jesus, he will give us opportunities to develop the deep love for others that will enable us to be "...a friend that sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).
Lord, thank you for being our friend. In a world where we sometimes feel friendless, we know that you are our faithful, loving friend. Thank you for the example you have set for us. You haven't asked us to do anything that you won't equip us to do, so Lord, please give us the strength and the grace to be a friend to everyone - no matter what. In your name, Amen.
