Jesus: Demonstrates How to Be a True Friend
- Shana Wise
- Mar 31
- 4 min read
Message by Pst. Dr. Shana Wise
Oxford Dictionary Definition of a Friend (the world’s definition): a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.
Jesus’s definition of a friend: John 15: 12-13, This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:9-17 (NKJV) Love and Joy Perfected
“As the Father loved Me, I also have 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 remain 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, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I 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 remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
· Jesus demonstrates how to be a true friend to someone else. The truth is, we don’t know how to be a “Kingdom” friend; Jesus must teach us.
· Matthew 22:38-39 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
When I think about how Jesus demonstrated how to be a friend, I think about his relationship with the Apostle Simon Peter.
· When he first met Peter (Matthew 4:18-20).
· Peter walked with him for 3 years as his disciple. (the gospels), teaching, preaching, miracles, etc.)
· Peter walks on water with Jesus. (Matthew 14:22-33)
· The transfiguration on the mountain (Matthew 9:2-13).
· Jesus teaches Peter about forgiveness. Matthew 18:21-22, Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
· Jesus gave Peter his identity. Matthew 16:13-19, When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
· Jesus rebukes Peter. Matthew 16:21-23, From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
· Peter cuts off the guard’s ear. (John 18:10)
· Peter denies knowing Jesus three times. (Matthew 26:69-75)
· Jesus reaffirms Peter’s assignment (John 21:15-18)
· Peter preached to the crowd in the name of Jesus, and three thousand were saved (Acts 2:14-41).
When I think about the relationship and friendship Peter had with Jesus, it reminds me that Jesus is more of a friend to us than we are to him. Jesus does not let our shortcomings and flaws deter him from loving us. Jesus sees us for who we are and who we are becoming. Jesus is God in the Flesh, and he loves us unconditionally.
May we love more like Christ. May we strive to be a friend who can endure with others.
Acts 2:38-39, Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
About the Author
Dr. Shana Wise is an ordained Pastor who founded and oversees Wise Choice Ministries with her husband, Pastor Ron Wise. She is also the CEO and founder of The Well Christian Women’s Network. Dr. Wise is the author of Women’s Devotionals Acts of Intercession and Chief Women Arise, The Impact of Your Election, and the Basic Ministry Training Manual (all available on Amazon). She received a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2019 from St. Thomas Christian University. Her passion is to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, equip others to apply the Word to their lives, and demonstrate it through the power of the Holy Spirit. She is a televangelist who appears on social media outlets. Shana is married and has four children.
For speaking engagements, email: wisechoiceministries512@gmail.com.
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Acts of Intercession
The Impact of Your Election
Basic Ministry Training Manual
Chief Women Arise
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