1. (169) friend -- (a person you know well and regard with affection and trust; "he was my best friend at the university")
2. (1) ally, friend -- (an associate who provides cooperation or assistance; "he's a good ally in fight")
3. (1) acquaintance, friend -- (a person with whom you are acquainted; "I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances"; "we are friends of the family")
4. supporter, protagonist, champion, admirer, booster, friend -- (a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the library")....
2. (1) ally, friend -- (an associate who provides cooperation or assistance; "he's a good ally in fight")
3. (1) acquaintance, friend -- (a person with whom you are acquainted; "I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances"; "we are friends of the family")
4. supporter, protagonist, champion, admirer, booster, friend -- (a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the library")....
Facebook has changed everything. Used to be that you started a friendship by meeting someone, talking with them, doing things together, etc.. But now, I see people send me "friend" requests on "facebook" quite often. Mostly, they are people I have never met, but are friends of friends who I have known for a long time.
And all that is a good thing; slightly impersonal, but good!!
Then there is this sign.
Unlike "facebook", you have never met Jesus, or someone who actually saw him. But, like us all, you have heard of him. And, the news is all good!!! He loves you, made a way for you to enter heaven and wants you to love him in return.
Then, there are these verses...
John, Chapter 15 (World English Bible)
14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.
Matthew, Chapter 28 (World English Bible)
18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
John, Chapter 20 (World English Bible)
26 After eight days again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
John, Chapter 1 (World English Bible)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
10
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.
19
This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20
He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”
21
They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the prophet?”
He answered, “No.” 22
They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23
He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
10
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.
19
This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20
He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”
21
They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the prophet?”
He answered, “No.” 22
They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23
He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
OK, right about now, you are probably asking yourself- "where is he going with this anyway"? Well, the sign is not an ordinary "friend" invitation- Jesus is LORD of all, the creator of the universe, and God in the flesh!!!
The more you think about that, the more your day will become very special INDEED!!!