Greetings in the name of the Lord and welcome to Zion Lutheran Church and Pastor Zacharias's page! Each month, Pastor Zacharias reflects on current and past events in his life and stories and lessons he has learned along the way.
| Are You a Friend to Jesus? |
By: Pastor Eric Zacharias |
Our Vacation Bible School explored the reasons that Jesus is considered our friend—our “Forever Friend.” Here is a summary, with a twist. Let’s see if we are half the friend Jesus is to us; let’s ponder what it means to be a friend to Jesus and to others.
Jesus our friend reaches out.
It’s easy to reach out to people you like. They are the people who are the most like you. Jesus’ ministry was as unique as his own selection of disciples: among the pious are fishermen and a tax-collector named Matthew. The latter choice stands out, for everyone considered tax-collectors to be cheating thieves. Jesus reaches out to sinners, forgiving them their sins and transforming their lives. Jesus reached out to us: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us all. Though we are outcasts by nature—not worthy of God—Jesus gave his life that we would know him as a “friend.”
Jesus our friend loves us.
It’s easy to love family and friends. It is not easy to love those who are strangers or known enemies. We like to ration love to those who can love us back or who can do us favors. Jesus was asked to do a favor for a Roman centurion whose servant was near death. Jesus honored that request; did he not also show love to Samaritans, who were also despised by the common Jew? Though we are enemies to God’s grace, we have been brought near to the throne of God; we are able to love God since he first loved us.
Jesus our friend gives gifts.
What’s the occasion? An unexpected gift is even more precious. Jesus gave sight to a man who had been blind from birth. Greater yet, he provided this man a faith which recognized Jesus as his Savior and Lord. Jesus has given you an unexpected gift—the gift of saving faith given you in your baptism. As with all gifts, we express our heartfelt “thanks” and treat it as the treasure it is.
Jesus our friend cares and shares.
How long can you care for something and make a significant difference? “Compassion fatigue” sets in when a person has to deal with one or two difficult situations. However, after several difficult events—as with a plague or war—a person begins to care less for human life. Jesus dealt with a variety of difficult situations—not to mention difficult people! He did not seem affected by “compassion fatigue.” His life was strengthened as he prayed to God. His compassion never failed, even in the face of death. He stopped death from claiming the young daughter of Jairus and the son of the widow from Nain. He even rolled back the decay of four day’s worth of death, as he brought his good friend Lazarus back to life.
Yes, Jesus our friend cares, bringing the promise of life even in the face of death. Jesus our friend shares this hope with us. It is based in his own resurrection from death.
How can you be a friend for Jesus?
Believe in him, entrust your life to his care—now and eternally. That is what friends do: believe and serve. Reach out, love others, give of your life, care and share the hope…forever… in Jesus’ name,
Pastor Eric Zacharias
