John 15:13-15, “Greater love has no one than that one lay down his life for his friends. 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 the 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.” The last lesson in our woman’s weekly Bible study had this verse as part of the lesson. It opened my eyes to the magnitude of God’s love for me. I thought of the many passages of scripture where people didn’t understand the love for them that God showed. They turned to God at times out of fear of His wrath. Not seeing Him as the creator, not seeing Him as one who was the protector, the Father wanting only the best for His children. But out of fear of punishment they would call out to him. Jesus’s words “I have called you friends” shines light on God’s love. A friend is there when there is joy in your life. A friend is there when you need them to comfort you, to help you, to cry with you, to laugh with you. A friend looks out for you. A friend is someone who doesn’t judge you. Who accepts you in spite of all your faults. A friend defends you when others come against you. Jesus told us “Greater love has no one than that one lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus calls us friends. He showed us the greatest love when He laid down His life on the cross for us, His friends. I am so thankful, I can call Jesus my friend.