I think of a friend who knows everything about me-all the different sides of me-and accepts me just the way I am. When I hear the word “friend,” I think of having a best friend-someone I am so proud to call my own and who is proud to call me their own. What do you think of when you hear the word “friend?” Have you ever thought about the weight of the word “friend?” The image of a friendship so vividly encapsulates the heart of God, so I believe it is important that we stop to think about what this word means.

This is a bold statement, and I want to dive in deeper with you and uncover what this truly means. Because of His actions, Jesus was called “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” ( Luke 7:34 ). These stories reveal the love, mercy, and grace of God, made manifest in Jesus Christ. When you read the Gospels, you will find countless stories like these. Go, and from now on do not sin any more” ( John 8:11 ). On another occasion, in John 8, a woman was brought to Jesus who had been “caught in the very act of adultery.” When asked what her punishment should be, Jesus did not tell the people to stone her, but rather, He said to her, “I do not condemn you.

Not only did Jesus enter a tax collector’s house, a huge step of acceptance not only did Jesus sit and share a meal with tax collectors, a symbol of deep intimacy and friendship Jesus went so far to pursue and call Levi, a sinful tax collector, and invite Him to join Him in God’s kingdom work. When you read the Bible for yourself, specifically the Gospels, you will find that Jesus often did what was counter-cultural. In Luke chapter 5, we witness a stunning scene: Jesus shared a meal with tax collectors, some of the most resented people in His day. “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” – Luke 5:32

Bible verse about friendship