John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

As we read and study Gods holy and sacred writ, we can find several places where God and Jesus referred to certain ones are their friends.

In the Old Testament:

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God spoke to Moses as a man speaks to his friend, Ex. 33:11.

Abraham is called the friend of God, 2 Chr. 20:7; James 2:23.

Abraham’s seed, the faithful of Israel, are called the friends of God, Isa. 41:8.

In the New Testament:

A man named Lazarus is called a friend by Jesus, John 11:11.

In the disciples are called Christ’s friends.

Even more amazing is the fact that one of the charges His enemies made against Jesus was that He was a “friend of publicans and sinners”, Matt. 11:19.

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But, even this makes sense against the backdrop of Matt. 26:50. In that verse a man named Judas is leading an army to arrest Jesus and the Lord calls this Judas “friend”.

This morning allow us to examine how JESUS has given us a loving friendship..

1. IT WAS VOLUNTARY

The statement, “Lay down his life”, indicates a voluntary act.

No man “murdered Jesus” or took away His life against His will. He voluntarily gave up His life on the cross. He makes this clear by several statements that He made during life and during death: John 10:18; John 18:37; Matt 27:50.

2. IT WAS VICARIOUS

The word vicarious means “performed or suffered by one as a substitute for another or to the benefit or advantage of another.”

Jesus tells us in this verse that His life was being given up “for his friends”.

In other words, His death was not for Himself, but it was for others.

Isaiah 53:4–6 makes this abundantly clear. When Jesus went to the cross, He was doing so on the behalf of others. It was for those people that He called His friends.

3. IT WAS VICIOUS

The phrase “lay down his life” is sanitary on the surface. It doesn’t nearly convey the depths of suffering that Jesus endured when He gave up His life for us.

It is only by looking at several verses throughout the Bible that the picture begins to become clear that He paid a terribly high price when He died for us.

1. Betrayed by Judas and deserted by the disciples—Matt. 26:47–56

2. Beaten by the Temple guards—Luke 22:63–64

3. Rejected by the very people He came to save—Matt. 27:17–25; John 1:11

4. Scourged—Matt. 27:26 (Ill. Furrows—Psa. 129:3)

5. Mocked by the soldiers and crowned with thorns—Matt. 27:26–29

6. Beard plucked from His face—Isa. 50:6

7. Stripped Naked—Matt. 27:35

8. Crucified—Nailed to a cross and hung up to die—Matt. 27:35

9. Absolutely marred beyond belief—Isa. 52:14;

When His death is considered from this viewpoint, it takes on renewed significance and glory! He did all of this for you - John 15:13!

4. IT WAS VICTORIOUS There are those who look at the death of Jesus on the cross and cry “What a tragedy!” Yet, His death was not tragic! His death ranks as one of the most glorious days in the history of this world! When He was nearing the end of His time on the cross, Jesus uttered a cry that proclaimed His death as a time of great victory—John 19:30. He knew that in His death, He had satisfied the righteous demands of God concerning the atonement for sin; Isa. 53:10–12. The fact that God was forever satisfied was proven three days later when Jesus was resurrected from the dead, Matt. 28:1–6.

Now, sin could not only be forgiven, but redeemed sinners would live forever!

It is easy to see His friendship in His sacrifice! However, His friendship is also seen on other ways as well.