It is significant that this “status
update” from servant to friend occurs in the Gospel of John. After all Jesus’
status was updated from mostly “Messiah” in the synoptic Gospels to “In the
beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” (John
1:1) So the God of Sinai (fire and smoke on the mountain don’t come near lest
ye die) is now revealed as the Word made friend. Since true friendship does not
operate as a hierarchy Jesus’ statement is as radical as anything uttered in
the scriptures. We are on a first name basis with the God whose name could not
be spoken - lest ye die! The flip side of this new arrangement is that our
continuing in the ways of our first parent’s garden rebellion is that much more
damaging to ourselves and the God come near who is our friend. Friendship can
only endure so much before the one whose heart is open to the other is hurt in
such a way that the real benefit of friendship, “that my joy may be in you that
your joy may be complete” is exhausted. Not that God abandons us but “I've got
friends in low places” (Garth Brooks) is not nearly as friendly as it sounds
and Jesus desires a relationship that blesses Jesus as much as it blesses us.
Nothing blesses Jesus more than when you and I, and everybody else for that
matter, friend each other in ways that go beyond “likes” on a page. Jesus’
joy can only be complete when our joy is. Which means my joy can only be
complete when your joy is complete and your joy can only be complete when my
joy is complete and that joy begins and ends with acting more friendly towards
the One who chose to call us friends.
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