I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father.
John 15:15, NET
A friend, reared in another country, grew up with servants. We were traveling together to a conference and had stopped for a meal. I had been teasing her about expecting things to be done for her, so when we returned to the vehicle, I opened the car door for her. She got in the back as I opened my own door and settled myself in the front seat. I turned to face her, laughing.
"Did you notice, I opened the door for you?"
"Oh, you did, didn’t you?"
She hadn’t noticed because it felt so familiar to her to be waited on. But she is a friend, not my master. Jesus is both Master and Friend. We have little experience in the world with this kind of relationship. I was play-acting with my friend to be her servant. If I were her servant, we would not be friends. We are Jesus’ servants, though we are also friends.
God is both/and, not either/or. What are the implications of this full-orbed connection he offers? Do we need to shore up one side or the other? If we know him primarily as Lord, we can know him better as close companion. If we know him as friend, we need also to know him as Lord.
Jesus, reveal afresh the fullness of the relationship you offer.Thank you. We want to know both your friendship and lordship..