Lately, I’ve been considering how necessary it is to have friends. Long distance friends are great, of course. It’s crazy that we live in a world where we can pick up a device and have a real-time conversation while living on another continent, or even a mile away. But there’s something essential about the everyday friends you can text last minute when your car engine dies. Friends you can grab ice cream with on the hardest of days. Friends who don’t mind lingering in the living room because you both just really need to talk—about that one guy or interview or the latest book you bought on Amazon.
Christians often say that all we need is Jesus. While I understand where this sentiment comes from regarding Jesus, Scripture all tells us that our Triune, relational God created us for relationship (Genesis 1:26; 2:18), calls us His friends (John 15:15), and asks us to be His own hands and feet (1 Corinthians 12:4–12, 27). So, although it’s true that “Jesus and…” doesn’t accurately reflect how salvation works, it does reflect how community works. Even Jesus didn’t choose to minister in isolation. He allowed people to provide Him with food and relational support. Even Jesus had His own set of friends, one of them being Lazarus.
We don’t learn much about Lazarus firsthand from Scripture. We never “hear” him speak. Instead, we learn about him through the words and emotional responses of his sisters and his friends. “Lord, the one you love is sick,” said Mary and Martha in a concerned message about their brother (John 11:3). Jesus is equally troubled when he hears that his close friend has died. His emotional reaction gives away the depth of His affection, as the Jews watch tears fall from Christ’s face (vv.33–36).
You see, the centerpiece of this story isn’t Lazarus—it’s Jesus. The whole story is funneled through the lens of Christ’s love. Our Savior, the One who gave up life itself for three days, first experienced what it was like to give up His own friend. He was well-acquainted with loss, an experience that allowed Him to sympathize with us on a visceral, human level.
Revisiting the sentiment “All we need is Jesus,” maybe a better way to look at it is this: “Jesus is the only way to salvation, but we need each other to flourish in our God-given identity.” It’s not as snappy, but at least it’s true.
Remember that Jesus calls you His friend. You know that one person who will sit with you in your pain until you’ve exhausted every word in the English language? Or the one you can steal away to your favorite hiking spot with? Not only is Jesus your High Priest and Redeemer, but He is also that sort of friend.
Even faith is done in relationship, not alone. Thankful for this Word, this community today.
Praying for your husband to find The Truth Lehua.
I am so grateful to have my truest friend be Jesus. I am also grateful for this SRT community. I don’t post much, but do read what others share.
I, like some of you, long for a close Christian friend who I can sit down with, maybe have coffee or even just cry together. I’ve prayed for this for a long time. I am 52 and a grandma of five. Not many my age have the same experiences. It’s hard to find someone who wants to be all in for Jesus and have a friend who wants the same. I keep praying and asking the Lord to bring someone to me. I know, He will in His time.
Meanwhile I appreciate all of you ladies. I appreciate the friendship with Jesus even more.
Blessings to you all this first Monday in July. ❤️
I understand your longing! Praying for you, sister.
Lehua, Clare, Lara, Autumn Porter, Traci Gendron, Hope, Mari V., Blessed Butterfly my prayers go out to you.
Churchmouse, you have always been encouraging and knowledgeable and reliable. I have always appreciated your comments.
Erin B., I totally agree. I recently moved and had my son, nephew, and friends help with the move. We all enjoyed the interaction and getting together. There weren’t more than 6 or 7 of us but still, we enjoyed being able to connect in person.
Maura, thank you for reminding me of that song. That song is a beautiful song.
Elisha Anne, your questions are ones I have often asked, especially when some major event in my life has occurred.
Kirstyn Wright, you are so right. Isn’t that amazing.
SO thankful for the friends and prayer with each other through this platform. All of your comments/revelations always encourage me. I ask for prayers of salvation for my partner. We are currently in each of our home countries and have not seen each other since March due to COVID. On the bright side, I am thankful for technology because we have been able to talk/facetime. Recently, we started reading the Bible together over the phone so I fully believe GOD IS AT WORK. I just pray not to lose strength and to continue leaning on the Lord when my heart desires to be with him in person. I know this time is difficult for everyone but I also want to be better at asking friends to pray along side me no matter how big or small. Thank you prayer warriors!!
Joining you in praying for his salvation!
@Lucretia, thank you for your words of encouragement. I needed to “hear” this right this moment as I am in line waiting inside a courthouse. I don’t know what comes next but for now here I am.
After reading Bailey’s devotion today, I’ll be writing, “Jesus is the only way to salvation, but we need each other to flourish in our God-given identity.” on an index card and putting it on my mirror where I can read it everyday. I may write it on two different ones and put one on the fridge also. I have found having that one special friend that will stick by you is so important. I have one and she was there when my son died and when my mom and dad died. There’s a song that talk’s about rising up like Lazarus — “Rise Up (Lazarus)” by a new group Cain that I thought of when I was reading this devotional.
I will be forty on the ninth. I have been working on this book since 2005 when I started graduate school. It has tested me, grounded me, lifted me, burdened me. I would like to finish because I see in another dimension the other books God wants me to write; they are piling up. I have felt unworthy, incapable, and also told as much. Please pray for me that I might finish the work God put in front of me for his glory. Pray that I believe hat God loves me, will come back for me, will remove the stone, unbind me, and call me forth back into new life. And yes, that really is my name.