"I Have Called You Friends"

 A BALANCED VIEW OF JESUS' ROLE

Like those in Christendom, the early Bible Students mistakenly allowed their love for Jesus to overshadow their relationship with Jehovah.  Beginning in 1919, however, they came to see that Jehoah and their relationship with him should be the focus of their worshol that we understand that our affection for Jesus is key to having a relationship with Jehovah. We must attach neither too much nor too little importance to our love for Jesus. - JOHN 16:27.

 We must have a relationship with Jesus in order for out prayers to be answered.  This calls for doing more than simply adding the phrase "in Jesus' name" to our prayers as a formality. We must recognized how Jehovah uses Jesus in answering our prayers.  Jesus told apostles: "Whatever you ask in my name. I will do this." (John 14:13)  Although Jehovah  is the one who hears and and answers our prayers, He has given Jesus the authority to carry out His decisions.  (Matthew 28:18)  Thus, before God answers our prayers, he sees if we have applied the counsel Jesus gave, for example:  Jesus said: "If you not forgive men for their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14, 15)How important it is, then, that we treat others in the same kind way that Jehovah and Jesus treats us! 

Only those who have a close friendship with Jesus will benefit from his ransom sacrifice. How do we know? Jesus said that he would "surrender his life in behalf of his friends." (John 15:13)  Faithful people who lived  before Jesus came to earth will have to learn about him and come to love him. Such men and women as Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and Rahab will be resurrected, but even these righteous servants of Jehovah   will need to form a friendship with Jesus in order to gain everlasting life. - JOHN17:3; ACTS 24:15; HEBREWS 11:8-12, 24-26, 31. 

We have the joy of working along with Jesus in preaching and teaching the good news of the Kingdom. When Jesus was on earth, he was a teacher.  And since his return to heaven, Jesus, as head of the congregation, has continued to direct the preaching and teaching work  He sees and appreciates  your efforts  to help as many as you can to come to know him and is Father.  In fact, the only way we can accomplish this work is with the  help of Jehovah and Jesus. - Read JOHN 15:4, 5. 

God's Word teaches that we must have and maintain love for Jesus in order to please Jehovah. So let us consider four things we can do to become Jesus' friends. 

Next time: "I Have Called You Friends" - HOW TO BUILD A FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS

From the jw.org publications