Hi5 to Friendship

The cast of my favorite Australian children's television series.

As I have gone around this crazy world, I have observed that there is only one thing that people are starving for -- FRIENDSHIP. The concept of love is so vast that it often creates a conflict of intentions between individuals. As many as there are people in the world, so is there a unique understanding of the word. Some people even think that love can only be found in a romantic relationship. This only leads to despair. 

But love is definitely more than romance. There is also love in friendship. People can love other people unexclusively. This is the kind of love that bound the ancient Christians together. This is also the kind of love that the Lord commanded his disciples to give each other. It's called brotherhood.

Jesus said to his disciples at the last supper, "I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. Whoever does not remain in me is thrown out like a branch and dries up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. My Father's glory is shown in your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples. I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love."

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My commandment is this: love one another just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them. And you are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from the Father. You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of Him in my name. This, then, is what I command you: LOVE ONE ANOTHER."

(John 15:5 - 17, emphasis added)

Beautiful are the promises the Lord had made to his disciples before he left this earth. But there is only one thing that he requires of us to receive such promise. We should love one another JUST AS HE LOVED US. Jesus considered his disciples as his friends and gave his life for them. In the same way, we should also consider each other as friends. Then the promise of Jesus in the gospel shall be fulfilled in our lives.