“A WORD AMONG FRIENDS”

JOHN 15:1-17

 

15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 “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.

 

Every once and a while someone says something and it changes your life forever.

It could be a father who says, “I love you” even though you know that you did something wrong and disappointed him.

It could be a teacher who says, “I know you can do this.  I believe in you.”

 

Jesus said something to his disciples that must have had a huge impact on them. It happened at the Last Supper.  Time was running out.  In just a few hours Jesus knew that he was going to be arrested and on his way to the Cross.  So, with that in mind Jesus turned to the disciples and said something to them that I’m sure they never forgot.  After everything that they had been through together Jesus said to them,  “No longer do I call you servants…but I have called you friends…”

 

What a wonderful grace filled moment that must have been.  Imagine how the disciples must have felt when Jesus called them his friends! The messiah was calling them his friends!  If only we could be more like Jesus.  If only we come love and embrace and affirm people the way Jesus did that night at the Last Supper.

 

Unfortunately, that’s not the kind of society that we live in these days.  You can see the kind of society that we living in by looking at the conversation that a little boy had with a woman one day.  They were at the beach when the little boy walked up to the woman and asked her a question. “Do you believe in God?”  The woman hesitated for a moment, then said, “Yes.  Yes, I do.”  The boy then asked her another question. “Do you go to church?”  Again the women said, “Yes. Yes, I do.”  The boy then asked her another question.  “Do you read your Bible and pray every day?”  Now, the woman was beginning to resent the boy’s questions but again said, “Yes. Yes I do.” At that point the boy breathed a sigh of relief and held out his hand.  “That’s great,” he said.  “Would you please hold my quarter then while I go in swimming?”

 

People today are often cynical and negative and quick to find fault.  Just look at the mini-controversy that took place a little over a week ago when the president visited that restaurant.  Some people actually criticized him because he asked for Dijon mustard on his burger.  They criticized him because Dijon mustard is supposedly a French mustard. Can you believe it? With all of the problems we’re facing right now some people are criticizing the president because he likes Dijon mustard on his burger.

 

Whatever happened to judge not that you not be judged?  Whatever happened to the New Commandment that Jesus gave us at the Last Supper.  It’s true that Jesus affirmed his disciples by calling them his friends but he also said something else to them.  He said, “This is my commandment - love one another even as I have loved you.”

 

So, why is it so hard for people to love the way Jesus loves us?  I’ll tell you what I think.  I think it’s because a lot of people are stressed out, angry and unhappy with their lives.  I think a lot of people feel the same way a man felt when he wrote a poem about one of his hobbies.  This is what he wrote:

 

In my hand a hold a ball – White with dimples and rather small.

Oh, how bland it does appear – This harmless looking little sphere.

By it’s size I could not guess – The awesome strength it does possess.

But since I fell beneath its spell – I’ve wandered through the fires of Hell.

 

My life has not been quite the same – Since I chose to play this stupid game.

It rules my mind for hours on end – A fortune it has made me spend.

It’s made me yell and curse and cry – And hate myself and want to die.

It promises me a thing called par – If I can hit it straight and far.

 

To master such a tiny ball – Should not be very hard at all.

But my will the ball refuses – And does exactly as it chooses.

It hooks and slices, dribbles and dies – And disappears before my eyes.

Too often it will have a whim – To hit a tree or take a swim!

 

With miles of grass on which to land – It finds a tiny patch of sand.

Then has me offer up my soul – If only it would find the hole.

It’s made me whimper like a pup – And swear that I will give it up.

And take to drink to ease my sorrow -  But the ball knows…I’ll be back tomorrow!