The Best Friend of All

A time of hardship or crisis often reveals who our real friends are. When we’re going through difficulties, we’re often disappointed because certain people we thought of as friends don’t come through for us.

But we can also be surprised when those whom we never thought of as friends stand up for us or are there for us in our time of need. An old adage says that a true friend walks in when others walk out.

The Bible tells us that there is “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NKJV). That friend, of course, is Jesus Christ.

God proved His willingness to have friendship with us in a tangible way. Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (NLT).

Jesus was called the friend of sinners, and that was certainly not meant as a compliment. But He really was, and is, the friend of sinners. In fact, He is the best friend that sinners can ever have. And He showed His desire to have friendship with us when He went to the cross and died in our place while we were still His enemies.

I don’t know how many people would die for their friends, but I think many people would be willing to die for their husbands, wives, or children. However, I think there are very few people who would die for their enemies.

Yet, while we were still sinners, while we were still God’s enemies, Jesus died for us, showing us His friendship. In fact, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13 NKJV). Jesus showed that great love. Talk about having friends in high places. Jesus is the best friend we can ever have.