Alive Again! Our Personal Friend

This posting is in response to a comment I received earlier this week.  The comment was that, "If Jesus died over 2000 years ago, how could he become one's personal friend today?"  Overlooked, is that three days after His crucifixion, Jesus rose again, having conquered death.  Though He was a man and died, as God, He had power over death and lives.  Can you imagine the thrill His two disciples on the Ammaus road felt, as they realized He was walking beside them, conversing along the way?  They did not expect to see Him alive again, after having seen Him die on Calvary's cross.  The Bible says, "their hearts burned within them."

Jesus is a Friend who cares, for the Bible tells us that "greater love hath no man than this, than to lay down one's life for His friends."  That is what Jesus did.  He gave His life in payment to God for the sake of forgiving His friends of their sinful acts, which are an affront to God.  It is when, as an individual, one honestly asks for forgiveness that Jesus lovingly responds.  That is to know Jesus personally.  Who could want a Friend so faithful?

The hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," by Joseph M. Scriven, states, "What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins to Him we bear!  What a privilege to carry everything to Him in prayer!"  We could not ask for a better Friend.  The same hymn asks us, "Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?  Take it to the Lord in prayer.  In His arms He'll take and shield thee.  Thou wilt find a solace there."

Having professed to live a renewed life, one receives the precepts from Jesus, who said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  He went about doing good, and as our personal Friend today, He is just as ready to assist us in doing the same.