September 21, 2023
The Servant And the Master
“You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:14-15 (NASB)
In college, students are slaves to coursework. We can’t disagree or demand change in the curriculum. We follow the professor’s instructions. During my courses, many times the professor gave a ‘pop quiz.’ We were not ready most of the time. Some did well, and some did not. One student asked the professor, “Can you let us know when we are going to have quizzes so we can be ready?” The professor responded, “They wouldn’t be called ‘pop quizzes’ if I did.” After the class ended and all coursework was met for graduation, I asked the professor why he gave quizzes instead of tests. He said, “Slaves are servants to the master.” With Jesus though, He allows us to be called His friends, not servants. He lets us in on the secrets of God.
“You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing;” The true test of a disciple of Christ is when he/she obeys Christ in their life. This is proved over time and not by an occasional service to the Lord. It is proof of conversion. As I said days ago, following Christ’s commands are not burdensome when we have submitted our life to Jesus Christ. It comes naturally through the love that is shared between the believer and Christ. As the supernatural relationship grows between believer and Christ, it is no longer a ‘have to’ attitude. It becomes a ‘get to’ attitude. This elevation changes us from servants (of sin) to friends (of God). “... but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” “The disciples were Jesus’s servants but elevated their status to friends... The word friend may have shocked the disciples, since in the Bible only Abraham is called God’s friend (James 2:23). It is interesting, too, that Jesus linked this friendship with his teaching. These disciples had become Jesus’ friends because of what he had shared with them about the Father’s truth.”[1] The time Jesus spent with the disciples came to its finality when He entrusted them with His message. Calvin says, “By another argument, he shows his love toward the disciples, which was, that he opened his mind fully to them, as familiar communication is maintained among friends. ‘I have condescended,’ he says, ‘far more to you than a mortal man is wont to condescend to his servants. Let this be regarded by you, therefore, as a pledge of my love toward you, that I have, in a kind and friendly manner, explained to you the secrets of heavenly wisdom which I had heard from the Father.’”[2] This heavenly message He entrusted His message to mortal men, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
When I finished my thesis for my terminal degree, I remember meeting with my mentor (the chair of the Doctor of Ministry program). He was tough during the time I was preparing; tough but fair. Many students avoided him because he was too hard. I told them I wasn’t afraid because I wanted to produce the best product and would entrust him to help me. When we finally met after I graduated, he was like a friend to me. He took my wife and me on his boat and took us to lunch while off campus. It was as if we had been elevated to friends. From servant to the coursework, to friends with the master...
[1] Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 285). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on the Gospel according to John (Vol. 2, p. 117). Logos Bible Software.