You are My Friends

“I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.” John 15:15b

How truly gracious is the God who made heaven and earth, the huge constellations, majestic mountains and all the myriads of fish in the sea and birds in the air. He deigns to call us His friends! 

In Exodus 33:11a, we are told that, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” Moses had to visit the tent which Moses called the Tabernacle of the Covenant, and while Moses spoke with God, the pillar of cloud would descend and stay at the door. Moses did not see God’s face, although he could hear God’s instructions, he could plead with God, and even argue with God. Although Moses asked to see God’s face, God refused him, because “man shall not see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20) 

But today, we can speak to God without going to church, without needing to visit a holy place, without need for the pillar of cloud. When Jesus left us, He said, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) If we spend time with the Lord, even while lying on our bed, He promised to teach us. 

In Matthew 27:51, we read that when Jesus died, the veil in the temple, the heavy curtain that separated the second room called the Holy of Holies, from the first room, the Holy Place, was torn from top to bottom. Not only that, there was also an earthquake, and rocks were split open. This signified we do not need a mediator anymore, like Moses, to be able to speak to God, to hear Him, plead with Him, and even argue with Him! 

As to seeing God face to face, did not Jesus tell us the parable of the King and his subjects? 

“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:31-40) It is clear that if we want to see Jesus, we need to be able to see Him in the poor, the sick, those in prison, the stranger, the widow, the orphan. And seeing Him, what do we do to draw closer to Him?