Who is Christ Jesus? Jesus posed this question to his disciples in Matthew 16: 13-26, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” they replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by the Father in heaven.
Except by the Holy Spirit, we cannot know Jesus as we should. As the Messiah, Jesus saved the world with his blood on the cross for the angels said in Matthew 1: 21, she will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. As the Son of the living God, Jesus made us his friends as he said in John 15: 15, I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. By Peter’s statement, only Jesus is the Messiah and Son of the living God.
Effect of divine knowledge
To Peter’s answer, Jesus said in Matthew 16: 17-19, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by the Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” God’s church is founded only on true knowledge of Christ Jesus. That knowledge is like a solid rock which cannot be moved by the storms Hades yet grants free access to God’s favour.
Who is a true friend?
A friend is someone with whom we share mutual affection, trust, and support beyond family or superficial relationship. It is a relationship of loyalty, shared experiences, and enjoyment in each other’s company. A friend is the one who accepts you, encourages you, and offers help through good and bad times. He is one in whom you can confide, and who makes one happy, comfortable, and who stands by you even when others leave, bringing out the best in you. So, how is Christ Jesus a true friend?
He laid his life down for his friends
Jesus’ friendship goes beyond this. Jesus said in John 10: 11, “I am the good shepherd. ‘The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He does not only lead the sheep to their eternal destination, but he is also the gate hence, in his company, the sheep cannot miss the way. He said in John 10: 7-9, “Verily truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep… I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. So, aside being the way, Jesus provides nourishment (pasture).
He is faithful to his friends in adversity
He does not abandon one in times of adversity. Jesus said of none true friends in John 10: 12-14, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it… I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Jesus is forever with us for he says in John 14: 18, I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. God said in Joshua 1: 5, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you (Repeated in Hebrews 13: 5). Jesus knows us yet we do not know him. Jesus knows our voice yet we do not know his voice. He is a true friend but we are not to him.
He duly accounts for his friendship
Jesus keeps his friendship and his bond. Jesus said in John 17: 6, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. they were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. He confirmed his accomplished mission to God as quoted in John 18: 9, “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” He preserves what has been entrusted into his care and duly accounts for it. He cherishes relationships so he says in John 6: 37, all those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
He shares his wealth with his friends
He made us sons of God. John 1: 12 says, yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. He also gave his friends eternal life in John 5: 24, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 6: 47 says very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. He will share his dwelling with us in heaven for he says in John 14: 2-3… I am going there to prepare a place for you… And I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am.
He responds to his friends’ calls
The disciples said in Acts 2: 21, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Also quoted in Romans 10: 13). He however wants us to live in him and he in us. This is a call to true repentance unto righteousness in him by allowing him to come into our hearts. He said in John 3: 7, you should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ For an effective response, he said in John 15: 7, if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. He also says in John 14: 1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
Reflection
As a true friend, Jesus has shown us what he and the Father wants from us; and how he will honour his relationship with us. He has shown us who he is and the blessings that accompany that divine knowledge. He is always within reach if we will abide in him and he in us; know his voice as he knows ours; and trust him as he trusts the Father who sent him. In his presence, Romans 14: 11 says, it is written: “’As surely as I live; says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’
Further, Philippians 2: 10 says, at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledges that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Only in his name is salvation made possible. Acts 4: 12 says salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Jesus wants to be our friend, he who will also be our judge in eternity. He shares our sorrows and bears our burden for Matthew 11: 28 says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
He forgives all our hurts against him; gives us rest from our burdens; bears our shameful and agonizing death on the cross; and goes to prepare a place for us in eternity? There is no friend like Christ Jesus!
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we invite you into our hearts not only as our Lord and Saviour, but a fried with whom we may reason together in all matters. We acknowledge you as the door to eternal life and our peace in eternity. Be near us in your blessed Holy name, Amen!!
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