Friendship means to love

Friendship means to love within many ways and many circumstances.
Part of the series of the upper room shows the meaning of friendship.
Those who were in the room with Jesus were his followers, his friends, his trainees, if you will allow a bit of responsibility put upon them.
He was mentoring them to continue in his footsteps and healings and follow what he had begun in ministry.
Our Pastor said;
It is ACCESS
Meaning to be with Jesus they had to have access to his teachings, his life lessons, his concerns and ministry.
They had to believe in what he was doing.
It is PARTICIPATION
They shared in his day-to-day ministry and followed him
It is shared JOY
They shared in his joy when someone was healed not only were they surprised but they were joyful with him
It is shared SUFFERING
They shared in the suffering he felt when Lazarus died and other instances where suffering often came before a deep healing took place.
It is sitting, not just SOLVING
They learned to sit with him, not try to solve the issue but just sit.
It is Listening while LAMENTING
They learned to listen while they lamented with him (dictionary.com said it is to express sorrow, mourning or regret) with another.
It is ACCOUNTABILITY
They learned accountability when walking with him while he did his ministry. They knew what he was capable of doing and they kept that knowledge close to their hearts.
The ministry and friendship of Jesus was very easy to see when watching the show THE CHOSEN.
You see him in a very real and different way and it is good. It is real and believable. That was the intention of the show.
I think when we have a good friend we tend to move through each of these areas depending on the depth and maturity of the frienship.
To be available and accountable. To have access. To listen and not try to solve the issue but JUST listen. That is a good friend.
I think it is really important to share in the suffering.
To remember matters of Their hearts and to honor where they are in the process and to keep confidential until it’s time or allowed to share.
Friendship means to love someone without any kind of other intention other than to be a friend to them.