Contemplative Bible Reading

John 15:14-15 (New Living Translation)

14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

An acquaintance of mine grew up on a farm, the only son of the farmer. He worked the farm everyday and was taught everything about the farm by his father the farmer. Everything, in endless detail. Imparting all the knowledge of the farm to the son was important to the farmer.

The farmer and son had a close relationship.

When I was in high school, I would “haul hay” for some of the local dairy farmers. They paid me $2/hour. They told me one thing, “When the hay wagon comes by, pick up the bales of hay and throw them on the wagon. That was all they ever told me.

The farmer and I had a servant relationship—nothing more.

Jesus describes a close relationship with those who do as He says. He cares about His followers. He cares so much that He calls His followers “friends.”

Do I want to be a friend of the King of Kings are just another hired servant who mindlessly tosses bales of hay on the wagon?