Is Jesus your best friend?

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. John 15:12-17

I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. Luke 12:4

There have been moments in my life that were crushing to my soul. I didn’t really know how to navigate through many of those events. My ‘go to’ after my encounter with the Holy Spirit and Jesus at 14 years of age (Jesus healed me from acute myeloid leukemia) was always to cry out to God in prayer. I would spend as much time as I could in serious petition before God asking for His presence and help. I need His encouragement and instruction to go forward in life. After one such crushing event when I was about 24 years of age, I sought the Lord late at night (past midnight) in a big cushioned chair in prayer. I felt that I needed to have an environment of worship so I put on an Evie (Evie Tornquist) record and spent the time allowing the words and music speak to my heart and mind. I then I had an experience I will never forget.

I was no longer in the chair. I was standing in a place that seemed like ‘space’ and where I stood was in a ‘pool of light’. Up to my knees was something like a fog-like mist that moved and flowed. I remember trying to see my feet but couldn’t. When I looked up… I saw Him. There was Jesus standing maybe 6 feet from me … and He was looking at me smiling. I was stunned. Right away thoughts and questions began swirling in mind. “I bet He going to say something profound and scriptural!” He was just smiling at me. I was waiting for Him to say something when He began to walk towards me. I stood frozen, not knowing what to do. Jesus continued to come and then He threw His arms around me and began hugging me tight to His chest.

Now you need to know I was raised in a family of Mennonites, and the men NEVER hugged each other. In fact, I don’t remember my dad EVER hugging me. I was the youngest of 4 brothers and we certainly NEVER hugged. So, Jesus hugging me was a VERY different encounter for me. At first it was really awkward for me. Eventually I figured I better hug Him back so I put my arms around Him and began lightly hugging Him. His head was to the left of my head and I was still stunned and was thinking, “Jesus’ head is right next to mine! What is happening!!?” Not being a ‘hugger’, I didn’t know the proper amount of time a hug should last, so I began to let go and Jesus just squeezed His arms harder around me, so I right away put my arms back and tried to hug Him with the same force He was giving me. Eventually Jesus let go and stepped back all the while keeping both of His hands on my shoulders looking directly into my eyes. Then He said, “It’s good to have you here Joe, it’s is good to have you here!” Then immediately I was back in my chair at home.

I sat there stunned! What just happened?! I asked the Holy Spirit what that was? He responded right away, “You have a best friend …and it’s Jesus!” I wept.

That experience with Jesus and what the Holy Spirit told me has forever stayed with me. It is one of my precious spiritual memories. And this is the first time I am putting this full description of my encounter with Him out into the ‘public’ some 43 years later. I have told just a few people of this experience. Their first question is almost always, “What does He look like?” It wasn’t until I saw the painting of Jesus by Akiane Kramarik she painted when she was just 8 years old, that I felt it was the closest I had seen that almost captured what I remembered. Nothing can portray / capture His eyes though.

Whether you believe me or not … I actually don’t care. I know what I experienced was REAL to me. It is one of my ‘pearls’ I hold most precious.

Do you know how much Jesus loves you? Is He your friend too? Do you think of Him as your ‘best friend’?

Father YOU are SO good to us! Jesus … YOU are my best friend! Holy Spirit … thank YOU for being with me!