Friendship

If you're being chased by someone, the context makes all the difference. If it's a childhood game of tag with friends, then the pursuit is exhilarating. If it's a person who keeps texting after a lame date, it's annoying. If it's a violent parent, the experience is terrifying.

**Who is this God that pursues us? Who is the person behind the uncommon pursuit?**

Too often, the church is a place of abuse or hurt. Doctrine can be wielded like a weapon. It's understandable why we sometimes think God is distant, harsh, vindictive, or violent. Our interpretations are legitimate. They're based in the reality of our experiences.

But when we see God this way, or feel afraid of him, we don't want to be his friends. One constant in this course is emotional honesty. How do you 'see' God? Is God a kill-joy? Or the Friend who wants to make your joy complete?

Contrast the approach of the Pharisees with how Jesus treated his disciples. In the intimate setting of the Last Supper, Jesus said:

*"As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love... I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete... No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father."*

**Jesus wants his joy to be in us. He calls us friends, not servants. He shares everything with us.**

This is the God who pursues us. Not a harsh taskmaster, but a friend who laid down his life for us.