¹⁴ “You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

Name dropping is the “art” of building oneself up by verbally associating with those of a higher status. In Canada, for example, most people can say they personally know or have met a professional hockey player. There is a theory called “Six degrees of separation” in which a chain of friendships connect any two people in the world. So that a friend of mine has a friend who knows someone else—through a series of six steps, that would associate me, for example, with the president of the United States.

Jesus offers to His disciples a direct connection of friendship with Himself that requires no intermediary steps, no “separation” to connect. It is a direct friendship. We can truly “name drop” and say, “I personally know Jesus Christ,” and not just a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of Jesus. As His disciples, we too, can join the ranks of the inner circle of friendship, where we therefore know all of God’s friends. For example, both I and Abraham are friends with God. What is said about Abraham is also true about me, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God” (James 2:23).

Now, Jesus conditions this friendship, we must note very carefully. He said, “You are my friends, if you do what I command you.” A contingent friendship. He is not talking about a casual relationship, but a friendship that is based on common goals. If we want to experience friendship with Jesus we need to get on board with His mission. No greater camaraderie have any two people than those who are on the same mission, pulling in the same direction, sacrificing all for each other and for the mission. Jesus came with a mission, and when we join Him in it, we experience friendship at the deepest level. This is not just an acquaintance relationship, but a growing, intimate connection built around a common focus – the glory of the Father.

Imagine for a moment, upon your home call to glory, the angels announcing, “Presenting, ______, a friend of the Lord Jesus Christ. What an experience that will be! Peter must have that in mind when he wrote, “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you” (2 Peter 1:10–11). What could be more abundant than joining the Son of God in His kingdom—as His friend?

Lord, I commit to living my life as Your friend, by continuing to join in Your great mission.