Jesus, He’s my friend.
He took me by the hand;
Led me far from this land.
– Arthur Reynolds from the song, “Jesus is Just Alright”
I got a friend in Jesus.
– Norman Greenbaum from the song, “Spirit in the Sky”
When we call Jesus our friend, we’re not being overly chummy. We are not being inappropriate about God. We are not understating or overstating the case. We are doing what He asked. “I no longer call you servants,” he said in John 15:15, “because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Jesus said it first. He called us His friends.
How does it feel to be a friend of Jesus? A little presumptuous? Does it seem a little cocky to claim to be a friend of Jesus? Well it shouldn’t be because it was His call. If He called us His friends, then we can certainly call Him ours. It’s what He wants.
We are not like slaves to a master who are just supposed to obey what the master says — anything more is none of our business. No, His business is our business because He has made His Father’s business known to us. We are not being kept in the dark. We are friends, co-workers with Christ. We are walking this road together. Jesus desires our company and our availability to His Spirit.
We know God’s business. We know the gospel. We know what Christ accomplished on the cross and why He wants everyone to know about it. We know all about His grace and forgiveness. Everything God gave to Jesus, Jesus gave to us, and He gave it to us to give it out to others. It’s all about grace turned outward.
We also know that He was called a friend of sinners and He had no objection to the reference. He rather liked it, in fact, since it was sinners He came to rescue. So not only did He rescue us, He made us His friends. How good is that?
So it’s settled. Norman Greenbaum sang about it. The Doobies sang about it. And they were right. Jesus … He’s your friend. There’s no argument and no question.
Write me and tell me what it’s like to have a friend in Jesus. And give me an idea of what it’s like to know and be in the Father’s business.
John Fischer The Catch 
Wow, Great Catch, videos of very cool songs & question!
I can honestly answer with a few tears rolling down my cheeks, it feels soooo good to be able to call Jesus my friend b/c I know that I know I don’t deserve it, but Praise His Holy Name that Him dying on the Cross & Raising again – gave me that ability! I’ll NEVER understand it, yet be forever grateful for it!
Mark, your response moved me and brought from my memory another great song from that era. I was actually reminded of the song from last weeks Catch: “Jesus was a Capricorn” but it reawoke within me after what you wrote today.
Here, from that same 1972 Kris Kristofferson album is the raw and powerful “Why Me?”
(Also on that same album is the equally meaningful “Help Me.”)
Enjoy…
🙂
TY brother Bob – perfect song!
PS wondering is the pic of your daughter Anne in the Hospital bed with a patient?
Jesus is the best friend I have and even though I’m walking through some things right now, I know He already knows about it and has the answers I need. He never turns his back on me or gets tired if my requests and even when I get mad at him, thinking he doesn’t listen. He’s always there to pick me up, dust me off and tell me to try again. Even when I’m not sure of what direction to go with situations he’s there to encourage and just listen. There are so many ways he takes care of things and helps me when I need him the most and isn’t that what a friend is all about? He’s the best and I love him with all my heart!!
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Song by Alan Jackson
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What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Charles Crozat Converse
I Can Be Friends With You – early Petra