What a friend we have in Jesus- A talk by Simon Giles

"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"

Good evening dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

Today, we gather to reflect on one of the most beautiful truths of our faith: What a Friend We Have in Jesus. The words of that old hymn are simple but profound, reminding us that we are never alone, for we have a friend in Jesus—a friend who gave everything for us on the cross.

1. Jesus: A Friend Who Understands

When we think of a friend, we often think of someone who knows us—someone who understands what we go through and walks with us in our pain and joy. Jesus, in His humanity, understands us completely. He walked this earth, felt what we feel, and experienced life in all its beauty and brokenness.

Isaiah 53:3 says, "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Jesus knows what it means to be misunderstood, rejected, and hurt. He knows what it means to carry burdens too heavy to bear. Yet, in all of this, He didn’t turn away from us. Instead, He drew closer.

How many times do we feel burdened with grief, guilt, or anxiety? We may think no one can truly understand what we’re going through, but Jesus does. He is not a distant figure watching from heaven; He is a friend who walks beside us, ready to comfort, guide, and strengthen us.

The book of Hebrews assures us of this truth, saying, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus lived the human experience fully, and because of that, He is not only our Saviour but also our compassionate friend.

2. Jesus: A Friend Who Bore Our Burdens

When we think of friendship, we think of people who are there for us in times of need. But no earthly friend can carry the burdens of our soul the way Jesus did. He didn’t just comfort us in our struggles—He bore the ultimate burden for us on the cross.

On that hill called Calvary, Jesus took on the weight of the world’s sin. He took on our sins—yours, mine, and every person’s. When we couldn’t bear the burden of guilt and shame, He bore it for us. "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows" (Isaiah 53:4). Jesus wasn’t just a friend in word but in action. His love for us was so great that He chose to suffer and die so that we might be free.

Imagine the depth of that love. No one forced Jesus to the cross. He went willingly because He knew it was the only way to restore us to the Father. He knew that through His sacrifice, we could be reconciled, forgiven, and given new life. John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." That’s exactly what Jesus did for us. He laid down His life for us—His friends.

When we feel unworthy, when we feel like no one could possibly love us because of our mistakes or failings, we need only look to the cross. Jesus saw all of our brokenness, and still, He chose to die for us. This is the greatest act of friendship the world has ever known.

3. Jesus: A Friend Who Brings Us Peace

How often do we carry burdens we were never meant to carry? How often do we try to solve our problems on our own, forgetting that we have a friend who is ready to help us? The hymn says, "Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer."

Jesus offers us peace, but too often we choose to carry our burdens alone. He calls us to come to Him, to lay our worries, our fears, and our sorrows at His feet. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites us, saying, "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." What a comforting promise! Jesus is always ready to take our burdens and give us rest, but we must come to Him in prayer, trusting that He cares for us.

Whatever burden you are carrying today, whether it is the weight of guilt, anxiety about the future, or deep sorrow from loss, Jesus is here. He is waiting with open arms, ready to give you His peace. He is not a friend who grows tired of our needs or our cries for help. In fact, He delights in us coming to Him.

4. Jesus: A Friend Who Gives Us Hope

Finally, Jesus is not only our friend in this life, but He is our hope for eternity. His death on the cross was not the end of the story. Three days later, He rose from the grave, conquering sin and death once and for all. Because of His victory, we have hope beyond this life. We have the promise of eternal life with Him.

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:2-3, "In my Father's house are many rooms... I go to prepare a place for you... I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." What a glorious promise! Jesus, our friend, is preparing a place for us. We don’t have to fear death because Jesus has already overcome it. Our future is secure in Him.

This hope gives us strength for today and courage for tomorrow. No matter what we face in this life, we know that we have a friend who is with us and a future that is filled with the light of His love.

Conclusion: What a Friend We Have in Jesus

My dear friends, what a friend we truly have in Jesus. He is the friend who understands our struggles, the friend who bore our burdens on the cross, the friend who offers us peace in the storms of life, and the friend who gives us hope for eternity. In Jesus, we find everything we need.

Let us not forget to turn to Him in prayer, to lean on Him in times of trouble, and to rejoice in the love He has for us. He is not only our Saviour; He is our dearest friend, and He will never leave or forsake us.

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Jesus, our friend and Saviour. We thank You for His love, His sacrifice, and His promise to be with us always. Help us to trust in Him, to bring our burdens to Him, and to rest in the peace and hope He offers. May we always remember the great love He showed us on the cross and live our lives in gratitude for all He has done. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Go in peace, knowing that you are deeply loved by your friend, Jesus. Amen.