TEXT: Luke 22:15

SUBJECT: Passover

Jesus Christ was the perfect man. He possessed every grace; and each was fully developed. He suffered no faults; nor was He liable to any. He communed with God from His mother's womb. And "in His presence found the fulness of joy and at His right hand, pleasures forever more".

But this perfect man was still a man. Hence, not self-contained. Not sufficient in Himself. Jesus Christ needed other people. He wanted friends. And so our verse finds Him longing for companionship: "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer". But not this verse alone. For hours later, He would invite Peter James and John to go with Him into the Garden, and beseech them to "watch with Me for an hour".

But this, of course, shouldn't surprise anyone. For man was not made to live by himself. "It is not good that man should be alone"--not even in Paradise. And so God made "a help meet for him". A friend, with whom he could share his life.

Godly men have always sought friends. David preferred Jonathan's friendship "to the love of women". They have also bemoaned its absence. "No man cared for my soul". A man with friends is rich, whatever he lacks. And, a man without friends is poor, however great his possessions.

Thus, it is good to want friends. "Let those who fear you turn to me"--says Psalm 119:79.

But not every kind of friend! Some "friends" are enemies in disguise. "Evil companionships corrupt good morals". Thus, it behooves you to--not only make friends--but to make the right kind of friends. But what kind? It seems to me that once you understand the effects of friendship, the question answers itself. What does a friend do? He makes you like himself. "He who walks with the wise will be wise; but a companion of fools will be destroyed". Good friends lift you up. Evil friends drag you down. Thus, you ought to choose friends according to the kind of person you want to be. If you want to be wise, then associate with the wise. If you want to be holy, then befriend the holy. If you want to be charitable then fellowship with the generous.

But why do you need friends?

Without friends, you will become eccentric, peculiar, and unbalanced. Proverbs 18:1: "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all sound judgment". This is because, being alone, he is not exposed to other points-of-view and not corrected. Thus, he becomes so hardened in his own conceits, that no one can tell him anything. Perhaps this was Nabal's defect: "He is such a son of belial that one cannot speak to him".

Positively, friends provide a very great service. Friendship is a means of grace. And here is why:

And so, in these and other ways, friends can "minister grace" to you. Grace you need to survive here below and make it to heaven.

But then, how do you make friends? "To have friends, a man must show himself friendly" is how Proverbs 18:24 puts it. But what does this mean, "friendly"?

It doesn't mean "nice" or "congenial"--although these cannot be discarded. It is very hard to make friends with people who are super-shy or socially awkward. But that is not really the meaning here. To attract friends, you have to become attractive yourself.

If you want wise friends, then you seek wisdom. If you want holy friends, then you pursue holiness. That is obvious, isn't it? For friendships are built on mutual interests.

But there is more to it than this. If you "want friends", by all means "show yourself friendly". But also, pray for friends. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning". A friend is a very good gift. Let no one be friendless for lack of asking. "You have not because you ask not".

But this leaves one more question: How do you keep the friends you have?

Build your friendship on a solid foundation. If it is based on a fancy, then the moment it passes, your friendship is gone, too. But if it is built on eternal things, then it can never die. For Christ never dies; the Bible never dies; the Holy Spirit never dies; holiness never dies; heaven never dies. And neither will your friendship.

Don't take your friendship for granted. Like anything else human, it can grow old and fade away, without effort on your part. Thus, make the effort to keep it alive and close and fresh. Jesus did. "...having loved His own who were in the world, loved them to the end".

Solve problems that threaten your friendship. This is done by reproof, repentance, and patience.

Pray for your friendships. That they would flourish.

Be a good friend yourself. And friendship--like love--"suffers long and is kind, does not envy or parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil...believes all things, bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things".

Be loyal to your friends. Even if they are not loyal to you. "At my first defense, no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. I pray God that it be not laid to their charge".