Jesus is the best friend anyone can have (proverbs 17:17)
Introduction:
1. In Proverbs, Solomon pointed out how good friends can be identified. a. (Proverbs 17:17) "A friend loveth at all times." b. (Proverbs 18:24) "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." 2. These verses describe the kind of friend that Jesus is. 3. The theme of our lesson -- "Jesus is the best friend anyone can have." Discussion: I. JESUS IS THE BEST FRIEND A SINNER CAN HAVE
A. (Matthew 11:19) Jesus was criticized as "a friend of publicans and sinners." B. Nevertheless, sinners were attracted to Jesus (Matthew 9:10). C. The Lord's dealings with a woman, in John 8:1-11, explain why. 1. On this occasion, Jesus was being "tempted" [tried, tested]. a. A woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Him. b. Her accusers told Jesus what the Law of Moses said. c. These men were using this woman to try to find something they could use against the Lord. 1) At that time, the Romans controlled Palestine, but they allowed the Jews to have a certain amount of freedom to govern themselves. 2) However, the Jews were not allowed to administer capital punishment. 3) If Jesus said that the woman was to be: a) stoned, He would be in trouble with the Roman officials b) released, He would be violating the Law of Moses. 2. These men were not really interested in doing God's will. a. Both parties involved in adultery were to be put to death (Leviticus 20:10). b. They did not bring the man -- they only brought the woman. 3. Consider this woman's predicament. a. She was a sinner -- she had been caught in adultery and deserved to die. b. Her accusers were hostile to her. c. We can safely say that this woman desperately needed a friend. 4. Jesus became her best friend. a. Although this was a touchy situation, Jesus did not leave her, and He had empathy for her. b. Jesus stood up for her by answering her accusers, He let her know that He was not going to condemn her, and He told her, "go, and sin no more." 5. These events show us that Jesus is a sinner's best friend. a. His mission is not to condemn -- His mission is to save. b. He still calls upon unsaved people to turn from sin and live godly lives [He came to call "sinners to repentance" -- Matthew 9:13]. II. JESUS IS THE BEST FRIEND HIS FOLLOWERS CAN HAVE
A. The Lord's feelings toward His followers are summed up in John 13:1. B. Let us consider what Paul said about the Lord in 2 Timothy 4:16-18. 1. Paul was in Rome making a defense for charges against him. 2. When he made his first defense no friend stood with him -- everyone had forsaken him. 3. However, there was One who stood with him. 4. The Lord gave Paul the strength that he needed during this difficult time. a. Jesus knew how Paul felt because all of His followers had forsaken Him when He was arrested (Matthew 26:56). b. The Lord did not leave Paul -- He was with him until the end. C. The Lord: 1. knows how we feel during times of difficulty (Hebrews 4:15) 2. is true -- He will not leave us (Hebrews 13:5b; Proverbs 17:17a; 18:24b) 3. does not want us to leave Him (Revelation 2:10). Conclusion:
1. We have shown that Jesus is the best friend anyone can have. 2. He has shown us how much He loves us (John 15:13). 3. He wants us to be His friends (John 15:14).
