June 9 - Friends

June 9 – Friends

“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. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. (John 17:6-12)

With Jesus words as He prays regarding the disciples, we see their extraordinary growth and transformation.  This is no longer a ragtag group of men wandering aimlessly and blindly behind a great teacher, but a unified group of men who finally understand who their leader is and where He has come from.

Jesus is certain that they know He came from God and that God sent Him.  With this being said, He asks God to protect them when He leaves. 

I spent a few moments putting together a list of the twelve people that I consider to be close friends – people who have walked through a lot with me, learned with me, experienced life with me. 

As I considered these people, I realized that there were some who were closer to me than others – like Peter, James and John were closer to Jesus.  Each, though, has a unique relationship with me. None are exactly the same. It took a while for some of them to know me well enough to move past my weaknesses, others accepted me for who I was immediately.  Each took time to build our relationship.

This process helped me look a little more deeply at the relationship Jesus had with His friends.  He cared for them and prayed for them.  The greatest gift He could give them was the life they had because He pointed them to the Father.

This is a beautiful model for friendship.  Pray for your friends and point them to the Father.