The word “Friends” is found 115 times in the ESV. The friends who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus in Mark 2:1-12 (Matthew 9:2-8; Luke 5:18-26) illustrate six characteristics of a real friend.
F-FAITHFUL – Mark 2:5
Webster’s defines “faithful”: “maintaining allegiance; constant; loyal” (see Psa. 37:3). “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” – Pro. 18:24. “Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away” – Pro. 27:10.
Real friends are faithful, constant, loyal.
R-RELIABLE – Mark 2:3, 4; Luke’s account says they were “trying [imperfect tense – suggests several efforts] to bring Him in and to set him down in front of Him” (5:18).
Webster’s defines reliable: “dependable; trustworthy.” Not all friends are reliable. “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me” – Psa. 41:9; fulfilled in John 13:18. “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man” – Pro. 22:24.
I-IDEALIST – Luke 5:22-24.
Webster’s defines an idealist as: “a person whose behavior or thought is based on ideals”. Jesus is an idealist because His behavior is based on God’s ideals, divine ideals, unchanging ideals. We need to be idealistic, governed by those same ideals. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy” – Pro. 27:6.
E-ENCOURAGING – Luke 5:20; Matthew 9:2
Webster’s: “to give courage, hope, or confidence to; embolden; hearten
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Real friends are encouraging.
N-NOBLE – Matthew 9:6
Webster’s: “having or showing high moral qualities or ideals, or greatness of character”
Noble gases (Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Radon) are very stable, being considered inert. They are called inert because they are not reactive. Having a high moral character means that you are stable, you don’t react.
Jesus is noble, in that He has great character, high moral standards. The greatest concentration of “friends” in the New Testament is found in John 15:13-15, in which he tells us His greatest moral standard: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” – John 15:13.
D-DELIGHTFUL – Mark 2:12
Webster’s: “giving delight; very pleasing; charming”
Jesus is a delightful friend, calling this man “friend” and forgiving his sins. “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel” – Pro. 27:9.
–Paul Holland
