Jesus Christ is the best friend one can have according to the passage. He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother and who came to save, abolish death, ransom, and redeem sinful mankind who are utterly unable to save themselves. As the perfect friend, Jesus is mighty and powerful with the ability to pardon, convert, and preserve. He is also loving and affectionate with a love that surpasses knowledge. Additionally, Jesus is wise and prudent, having perfect wisdom and omniscience, and never makes mistakes in how he helps friends. He has proven himself as a tried and true friend over thousands of years, never changing, abandoning, or limiting himself based on anyone's circumstances. The passage exhorts

1. Practical Religion
Chapter 14: The Best Friend
J. C. Ryle

2. Friendship
We have friends – perhaps
hundreds on social media,
and even some in real life
Jesus is not like worldly
friends – He is a friend
that sticks closer than a
brother (Prov. 18:24)

3. A Friend in Need
Christ came to save us
(1 Tim 1:15)
We are dying – he came to
abolish death (2 Tim 1:10)
We are debtors – he came
to ransom and redeem us
(Hos. 13: 14; Isa. 61: 1)
Man is the neediest creature on
God’s earth, because he is a
sinner. Sinners need pardon, and
they are utterly unable to provide
it for themselves.

4. A Friend in Need
What attributes of God are
displayed here?
Sovereignty
Love
Man is the neediest creature on
God’s earth, because he is a
sinner. Sinners need pardon, and
they are utterly unable to provide
it for themselves.

5. A Friend in Deed
Christ came to save us
(1 Tim 1:15)
We are dying – he came to
abolish death (2 Tim 1:10)
We are debtors – he came
to ransom and redeem us
(Hos. 13: 14; Isa. 61: 1)
Never were there such acts of
kindness and self-denial as those
which [Christ] has performed on
our behalf. He has not loved us
in word only
but in deed.

6. A Mighty and Powerful Friend
He has all Power
He is able to Pardon
He is able to convert
He is able to preserve
Power to help is that which few
possess in this world. Many have
will enough to do good to others,
but no power.
They feel for the
sorrows of others,
and would gladly
relieve them if they
could, but are
unable to take their
grief away.

7. A Mighty and Powerful Friend
What attributes are
displayed here?
Omnipotence/
knowledge
Wisdom
Power
Power to help is that which few
possess in this world. Many have
will enough to do good to others,
but no power.
They feel for the
sorrows of others,
and would gladly
relieve them if they
could, but are
unable to take their
grief away.

8. A Loving and Affectionate Friend
He is willing to be the friend of
any sinner: he has kindness
and mercy and healing
medicine for all. He has long
proclaimed this to be his rule:
‘him that cometh unto me I
will in no wise cast out’ (John
6: 37)
He knows what pain is: he is
‘acquainted with grief’ (Isa. 53:
3).
Kindness is the very essence of
true friendship. Money and
advice and help lose half their
grace, if not given
in a loving manner.
What kind of love
is that of the Lord
Jesus toward man?
It is called, ‘A love
that surpasses
knowledge’ (Eph. 3: 19).

9. A Loving and Affectionate Friend
What attributes of God are
exhibited here?
Love (for His people)
Kindness is the very essence of
true friendship. Money and
advice and help lose half their
grace, if not given
in a loving manner.
What kind of love
is that of the Lord
Jesus toward man?
It is called, ‘A love
that surpasses
knowledge’ (Eph. 3: 19).

10. A Wise and Prudent Friend
The friendship of the Lord
Jesus is not so: it always
does us good, and never
evil.
He makes no mistakes. We
may mistake what we
think we want or need, but
he never does
Man’s friendship is sadly blind. He
often injures those he loves by
injudicious kindness: he often errs
in the counsel he gives; he often
leads his friends into trouble by
bad advice, even
when he means to
help them.

11. A Wise and Prudent Friend
What Attributes are
exhibited here?
Wisdom
Omniscience
Man’s friendship is sadly blind. He
often injures those he loves by
injudicious kindness: he often errs
in the counsel he gives; he often
leads his friends into trouble by
bad advice, even
when he means to
help them.

12. A Tried and Proved Friend
He has had friends in every station in
life – some were kings and rich men,
some were poor
He has had who are young, old, and
in between
He has friends of every possible
temperament
He has had friends in every
condition – single, married, sick,
well, masters, servants, etc.
He has had friends of nearly every
nation, tribe, and tongue
Six thousand years have passed
away since the Lord Jesus began
his work of befriending mankind.
During that long period of time he
has had many friends in this world.
He has had great
experience.

13. An Unfailing Friend
Jesus never changes. He is
‘the same yesterday, today,
and for ever’ (Heb. 13: 8).
Jesus never “goes away” - ‘I
will never leave thee nor
forsake thee’ (Heb. 13: 5).
Jesus is with us everywhere -
‘I am with you always, even
unto the end of the
world’ (Matt. 28: 20).
The saddest part of all the good
things of earth is their instability.
All is passing away. But there is
one splendid
exception to this
general rule, and
that is the
friendship of
Jesus Christ.

14. Application
Be sure you are his friend
If you are not his friend, you
are a poor, miserable being
He is willing to become
your friend
If you are his friend, you
have great privileges, and
ought to walk worthy of
them
Yet a little time and thy Friend shall
come to take thee home, and thou
shalt dwell with him for ever. And
then thou shalt
hear assembled
worlds confess,
that HE IS THE
RICH AND
HAPPY MAN
WHO HAS HAD
CHRIST
FOR HIS FRIEND.

15. For next time:
Chapter 15: Sickness
Please read:
John 11:1-44