When we hear the word friend, we can think of someone who we have a close relationship with.

A friend is someone who you trust and care deeply for.

A friend will stick by you closer than a brother.

King David, who was the second king of Israel, and Saul’s son, Jonathan, were friends (1 Samuel 18:1-4). Jonathan possessed courage. He led 1,000 soldiers to defeat the Philistines.

Jonathan and David had a close friendship. This was shown by Jonathan giving David his robe, armor, sword, bow and girdle. Jonathan pleaded with Saul to reinstate David. Jonathan held a final meeting with David at Horesh. They made a covenant with one another as Jonathan acknowledged David as the next king of Israel. Jonathan even warned David that his father, Saul, was planning to kill him.

The end of 1 Samuel reports the end of Saul and his three sons, Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchishua at Mount Gilboa. Their bodies were first hung on the wall of Bethshan and later to Jabesh.

Saul was extremely jealous of David. Saul could not kill David, but David would not kill Saul (1 Samuel 24:1-11). Eventually, David had the bones buried. That is a friend to the end.

In the world today, there is still that close relationship we can have with Jesus. He is a true friend to the end. If you trust in him, you will never be betrayed. If you trust in Him, He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Jesus is our Savior. He is the Anointed One. True friends are hard to find.

Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) states, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Jesus is the clearest picture of Jehovah God the world has ever seen. Jesus is a conjunction of God and man. He spoke in parables, which is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. If you follow Jesus, you will never go wrong. He came down through 42 generations.

The Bible informs us Jesus was born in a stable and placed in a manger. A manger is a feeding trough used for livestock. Jesus came into the world a humble way. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, a long piece of linen used in ancient times to wrap babies and broken limbs. The cloth was wrapped tightly around the body to prohibit movements. Just after birth, Jesus was wrapped.

He was born without sin (Luke 1:35).

In Matthew 1:20-23, the Bible tells us that he was both Jehovah God and human. Matthew 1:21 tells us that He came to be our Savior. King Herod was afraid of Him. We can prepare to meet Him.

Mark 1:9 tells why he wanted to be baptized. Matthew 4:12 tells of Satan trying to trap Him, but could not. We don’t need to let Satan trap us. If he tried to trap Jesus, he will try us. Jesus faced all kind of obstacles, but he was steadfast. Jesus came to die on the cross for us.

From the sixth to the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour, He cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46). He gave up His spirit. The curtain temple was torn from top to bottom. Now we can go to Jehovah God for ourselves.

Jesus died but, He rose. (Luke 24:1) Jesus gives the Great Commission. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the world. Christians, God commands us to do that.

To complete Jehovah God’s work, we got to go out into the hedges and byways to preach the gospel. The Bible tells us that after this Gospel is preached throughout the world, then the end will come. We are the instruments of God. We are to use our gifts to serve and ministers to the lost. This is one of the fulfillment of His Word.

John 15:13-15 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made know to you.”

I was called to Morgan, Ga., to help a young man whose mother is a prison guard. I preached to a place called the “Pear Orchard” in Bainbridge last week. I had to tell them about this Friend in Jesus. I told the young men that Jesus loves them regardless of their whiskey bottle, their dope and the gang leader. I told them that Jesus can take away their old habits and accept Jesus as their true friend until the end.

A news reporter asked me what was the problem and what is the answer. I replied Jesus. He is the answer for the lost world today.

I am trying to help start a neighborhood crime watch in that community. I confront these young men face to face and tell them about Jesus. Sometimes my family is afraid for my safety, but God watches over me.

I had to preach the eulogy of a 19-year-old young male in Early County killed recently in a suspected gang fight. He had a fatal blow to the head with a golf club. I told the hundreds of people to turn back to God before it is too late. This is the answer for everyone who does not know him.

Trouble comes to all families. I was called to Tallahassee, Fla., to minister to a young man who was on crack cocaine.

As we become obedient to God, Jesus can be our true friend to the end. We must be obedient and faithfully serve Him. He can be a friend to all of us when we surrender all to God and then we all can say, “What a Friend we have in Jesus.”