Sunday, May 6, 2018

Jesus Calls Us Friends

6 Easter b         May 6, 2018
Acts     Ps. 33:1-8,18-22
1 John 4:7-21      John 15:9-17      
Lectionary Link
What is one of the greatest gifts of life?

Is it a new bicycle?  Or a new doll?  Or some new clothes?  Or a new car?  Or a new house?  Or a new job?

All of these things might be good things and good surprises, but can you guess what the very best gift in life is?

The best gift in life is friendship.  When one discovers a friend one finds the best gift of life.

Jesus told his disciples.  You are my friends.  And as my friend, I will share with you everything.  And the best thing that Jesus shared with them was to have a relationship with God his father.

Jesus as the best friend of all, shared what was best.

He said that he would share his relationship with God as his Father.  So, Jesus told his friends; I'm like your brother, because you are sons and daughters of God too.  We are all members of God's family.

But you know what is said?  Not everyone knows that they are members of God's family.  Not everyone knows that Jesus is their friend.

Do you know what Jesus did to solve this problem?

Jesus told his students; you are my friends.  You have graduated from my school and now you have to go into all the world and tell and show all people that God is their Father and that I am their friend.

And so gather here today.  We gather today because Jesus has made us his friends.  And he has let us know that we are sons and daughters of God.

He has let us know that his life can be known within us by God's Holy Spirit.

God is pure friendship.  God is the Friendship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  And the friendship of God has been given to us when God's Son, Jesus came to show us how to be special friends of God and friends with each other.

Today, we celebrate our friendship with God and with Jesus and with each other.  And we celebrate the Friendship energy that is in us and around.  That friendship energy is the Holy Spirit.

Let us be thankful today for the gift of friendship with God and let us be thankful for the friendship that we have with each other.  And let us not forget to share this friendship news to more people and invite them to be with us as our new friends.   Amen.

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