The Marks of Friendship / 友谊的记号

[Dexu Xia]

The Marks of Friendship

You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:14

As a little boy growing up in Ghana, I enjoyed holding my father’s hand and walking with him in crowded places. He was both my father and my friend, for holding hands in my culture is a mark of true friendship. Walking along, we would talk about a variety of subjects. Whenever I felt lonely, I found consolation with my father. How I valued our companionship!

The Lord Jesus called His followers friends, and He showed them the marks of His friendship. “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you,” He said (John 15:9), even laying down His life for them (v. 13). He showed them His kingdom business (v. 15). He taught them everything God had given Him (v. 15). And He gave them opportunity to share in His mission (v. 16).

As our Companion for life, Jesus walks with us. He listens to our heartaches and our desires. When we’re lonely and downhearted, our Friend Jesus keeps company with us.

And our companionship with Jesus is tighter when we love each other and obey His commands (vv. 10, 17). As we obey His commands, we will bear “fruit that will last” (v. 16).

Walking through the crowded alleys and dangerous roadways of our troubled world, we can count on the Lord’s companionship. It’s a mark of His friendship.

友谊的记号

你们若遵行我所吩咐的，就是我的朋友了。-约翰福音15章14节

记得童年在加纳时，我总是很喜欢牵着父亲的手，一起走在人潮拥挤的地方。他既是我的父亲，也是我的朋友，因为在我的文化里，牵手是真实友谊的记号。我们经常一边走，一边谈论各种话题。无论何时感到孤单，我都可以从父亲那里得到安慰。我十分珍惜父亲的陪伴！

耶稣称那些跟随祂的人为朋友，并向他们显明友谊的记号。耶稣对他们说：“我爱你们，正如父爱我一样”（约翰福音15章9节），祂甚至还为他们舍了自己的生命（13节）。耶稣告诉他们天国的事（15节），并把祂从天父那里所听到的告诉他们（15节），甚至还给他们机会参与祂的事工（16节）。

耶稣是我们一生的朋友，祂一直陪伴我们，倾听我们的伤痛和渴望。当我们感到孤单沮丧时，这位朋友耶稣就在你我身旁。

当我们遵守耶稣的命令彼此相爱（10、17节），我们与祂的关系就更加紧密，也能结出长存的果子（16节）。

在这纷扰不安的世界里，当我们走过拥挤的小巷和危险的道路时，都有主耶稣的陪伴，这便是祂友谊的记号。

天父，有些朋友让我们失望，而我们也会让朋友失望。
但祢却永不会让我们失望，
祢也应许要与我们同在，直到世界的末了。
求祢帮助我们忠心地服事祢，表明我们对祢的感恩。

对你而言，成为耶稣的朋友有何意义？
耶稣如何向你显明祂的同在？