“No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (CSB)

My father-in-law once told me that in the end, you’re blessed if you have one or two friendships that truly stand the test of time. Having experienced a stinging string of friendships lost — through death, distance and devastating fallouts — I’ve found this reality check rather humbling. Maybe you can relate.

Thankfully, though, in Jonathan and David’s friendship (1 Samuel 18-23), we find conviction, comfort, and an incredible model of the great love story of Scripture.

Jonathan and David’s friendship was shocking, considering Jonathan’s father was the jealous-turned-murderous King Saul who kept David on the run for years. Amid his father’s spiritual and mental decline, Jonathan — who would’ve been heir to the throne — amazingly accepted David as the true, anointed king chosen by God.

Jonathan even made a covenant with David, promising to protect David from Saul, and David promised to protect Jonathan’s descendants (1 Samuel 20). It seems Jonathan saw in David the same love for God he had, and “he loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:3, ESV). Faith in God’s steadfast love (hesed in Hebrew) was the basis of their friendship.

After Jonathan tragically died in battle, David cried, “Your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women” (2 Samuel 1:26, ESV). Many of us can’t imagine friendship love running deeper than romantic love. But David could — he loved Jonathan enough to fulfill his part of the covenant even when his friend had passed.

In David’s day, it would have been typical for him to kill everyone from the previous regime’s family once he became king, removing any threat of insurrection. But David went out of his way to find Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth and “show him kindness [hesed] for Jonathan’s sake” (2 Samuel 9:1, ESV).

To Mephibosheth’s utter shock, death was not on the menu. David came to restore Saul’s land to Mephibosheth and invited him to eat at the king’s table forever “like one of the king’s sons” (2 Samuel 9:11, ESV). Mephibosheth received the blessings of a friendship that ran deeper than familial bonds — one that stood the test of time.

And this points us to the God who has invited us into His friendship. Though we rejected Him, He sought us out, making covenant promises to men like Noah, Abraham and David of a forever love that unfolded for generations.

Then God’s Son came to earth. Jesus, our Messiah King, said, “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). And with a love surpassing any romance, He laid down His life for us.

All this so we, too, could feast at His table and enjoy the banquet of His love (Matthew 8:11) — not merely as His servants but as what He now calls us: His friends (John 15:15).

Heavenly Father, I don’t deserve Your friendship. But thank You that Your love stands the test of time, meets me in my worst trials, and forgives my ugliest sins. Help me to know and believe the love You have for me. Help me to hear Your gracious voice calling me “friend” today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

For more on Scripture’s great story of God’s enduring love, grab a copy of Quina Aragon’s book, Love Has a Story: 100 Meditations on the Enduring Love of God.

ENGAGE

Connect with Quina Aragon by subscribing to her email list at Quina.Substack.com.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

John 15:15, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (ESV).

Message a friend today to tell them how they’ve shown you the love of Jesus. Get specific!

How does it make you feel to know that Jesus calls you “friend”? Share with us in the comments!

© 2024 by Quina Aragon. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Moody Publishers for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.

Click here to view our policy on third-party links.