How Does Jesus Define Friendship? A Radical, Selfless Love

Jesus on Friendship: Not What You Might Expect

When we think about friendship today, we might picture texting memes, grabbing coffee, or venting about life. Nothing wrong with that — but when Jesus talks about friendship, he takes it somewhere deeper, way deeper.

His most direct teaching on the subject?

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.”
(John 15:13)

Yup. That’s the bar. Not "buy them lunch" or "don’t ghost them for a week." He literally says: be willing to die for them.

Friendship as Sacrificial Love

It’s not just feelings, it’s action

For Jesus, friendship isn’t about convenience or comfort. It’s defined by sacrifice. A real friend gives without demanding, forgives without keeping score, and puts others first — even when it costs something.

That doesn’t mean you need to throw yourself in front of a train (unless you’re in a superhero movie). But it might mean giving up your time, pride, or comfort for someone else’s good.

And whew… that’s not easy. I’ve had friendships where it felt like I was always giving, and it gets exhausting. But Jesus doesn't say, "be a doormat." He says, "love like I loved you." There's a difference — one rooted in purpose, not guilt.

Laying down your life = daily choices

This isn’t always about dramatic moments. Sometimes, “laying down your life” means:

• Listening when you’re tired

• Telling the truth kindly, not just what they wanna hear

• Walking with a friend through their mess — not fixing it, just being there

Jesus models this kind of love constantly. Healing people, teaching them patiently, even washing their feet (gross, let’s be honest), all as acts of deep, humble friendship.

Jesus Calls His Disciples "Friends" — That’s Huge

Not just servants, but insiders

In John 15:15, Jesus says:

“I no longer call you servants... Instead, I have called you friends.”

Think about it. God-in-the-flesh says: You're not just my followers, you're my friends. That means trust. It means being known. It means mutual relationship — not just obedience.

It flips the power dynamic completely. Jesus isn’t just a master giving orders. He shares his heart, his mission, his very life.

Friendship with Jesus is invitation, not obligation

Here’s the wild part: Jesus chooses us first. We don’t have to earn it. He says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16).
So friendship with him isn’t about being “good enough.” It’s about showing up, receiving that love, and then — yeah — passing it on.

What Makes a "Jesus-Type" Friend?

Honest, loyal, and full of grace

Jesus never sugarcoated truth. But he always paired it with unshakeable grace.
He confronted Peter, comforted Mary, restored Judas even after betrayal (well, tried to).

So if we want to be friends like Jesus, it means:

• Speaking truth with compassion

• Sticking around in hard times

• Forgiving. Again. And again. (Ouch, I know.)

Friendship that reflects God's love

Ultimately, Jesus-style friendship points beyond itself. It's not just about bonding or good vibes — it's about becoming a living picture of how God loves.

And yeah, that's kind of intimidating. But it’s also beautiful. Because real friendship isn’t just about us — it transforms the world around us, one lunch, one late-night phone call, one honest moment at a time.

Final Thoughts: Friendship, According to Jesus, Is Costly… and Worth It

So, how does Jesus define friendship?

• Through radical sacrifice

• Through truth-telling with love

• Through choosing to stay, even when it’s messy

Not the easiest model to follow. But maybe the most powerful.

It’s not about perfect friendships. Jesus had friends who failed him. Friends who doubted him. And yet he still called them “mine.”

That kind of friendship? It changes people.
It might even change us too.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.