I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his lord's business. Instead, I call you friends, because everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15)
The word friend φίλος (philos) is translated as a beloved, dear friend. To those, he knows, he calls friends. He is revealing to us that from the Father as a friend. What a friend we have in Jesus.
The Greek word for brotherly love φιλαδελφία (philadelphía) has as root words phílos, "friend" and adelphós, "brother." Brotherly love, we can then define as "loving one another" as Jesus loves us which we can further define as being a close friend. When Jesus says he is a friend, he is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. How do we know of such a friend? by experience. It is like knowing of Christ's love, we know because he reveals his love to us. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends."(John 15:13) He laid down his life for his friends.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
Jesus was called a friend of sinners, and when asked why he said "wisdom renders justice by what she does."(Matthew 11:19) Jesus became for us wisdom from God and the wisdom of God was made known by the good pleasure of God's will to little children chosen by Him. Jesus rejoiced, in Spirit, as this was the will of God, that such wisdom was revealed to children, not the wise, and learned. (Matthew 11:25) Perhaps this is why Jesus said to the religious leaders of the day that tax collectors and sinners entered before them and that they must become like children to enter the kingdom of God?
there is a friend clinging closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
Paul says he proclaimed the gospel so that we would know the infinitely searchable riches in Christ.* Of course, what is lack in the earthly sense compared to the weight of eternal glory? As Paul goes on to say, who/what can separate us from the love of Christ? shall famine, nakedness, danger...(Romans 8:32-35) But I thought if I put first his kingdom he would take care of my food and clothing? Why is Paul now saying he has been naked, hungered, and faced many dangers for Christ? He graciously gives us all things, to be content even when I am naked and hungry. This is to know of his riches, the riches above the needs of this earthly life, from his riches he supplies our needs, like to comfort us as a friend in our time of need.
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
For me, the realization that Jesus is my friend came in suffering, he told me he was my friend and it greatly brought comfort to me. He is not against me, but for me, his purpose is working out for my good. He is my friend and is it not better to be called a friend than a servant? (John 8:31-35) Does a ruler make known to his servants everything? but to a friend he does. Jesus calls us friends, he reveals to us who the Father is. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, he will never forsake nor leave us, he is always there. There is something about a friend being there for us in our desperate hours, for me this is when I learned what a friend we have in Jesus.