Called Friend by Jesus, Welcomed as Children by the Father

Photo by Pat Whelen on Unsplash

In my previous blog from Matthew 7:7–11, a father and son relationship stood out to me. I did not explain it deeply there, but the more I sat with it, the clearer it became. That passage talks about a Father who is ready to answer the request of His son.

Two things keep repeating in my mind.
The Father. And the son.

The Father is God. Not just any earthly father, because Jesus Himself already shows the limitation of an earthly one. Our Heavenly Father can give much more than anyone else ever could.

Then there is the Son. The true Son of the Father is Jesus.

So I started asking myself, how can we pray to the Father and expect Him to answer if we are not His child?

The answer is simple, but it feels heavy in a good way.
Through Jesus. The true Son.

That is why we pray and ask in the name of Jesus. Not as a formula, but because Jesus invites us into something deeper than prayer. He invites us into a fatherly relationship with God. Through Christ, we became a new creation and were given a new identity. A son. A child of God.

So now, when Matthew 7 tells us to ask, seek, and knock, it is not just encouragement to pray. It feels like an invitation to become a son who asks his Father.

While sitting with that, another passage was given to me, which leads me to a more reflection today.

“Nang makita ni Jesus ang kanilang pananampalataya, sinabi Niya sa paralitiko, ‘Kaibigan, pinapatawad ka na sa iyong mga kasalanan.’”
Lucas 5:20

This happened before Jesus talked about the father and son relationship in Matthew 7. Yet here, Jesus already shows compassion in a different way.

He saw their faith.
He called him friend.
Then He forgave him.

Faith in Action: Ask, Seek, Knock in Luke 5

In verses 18 and 19, I cannot ignore the faith and friendship here. They knew where Jesus was. They carried their friend to Him. When they could not find a way in, they made a way through the roof.

This reminded me again of Matthew 7.

Ask.
Seek.
Knock.

I can almost imagine how they asked. They sought Jesus out. And when the door felt closed, they kept knocking until they found a way in.

What Makes Us a Friend of God?

So the question returned to me.
How do we become a friend like the paralytic was called a friend by Jesus?

Jesus saw their faith. And that matters. Faith moves the heart of God. It reminds me of the centurion who believed that Jesus only needed to speak a word.

It was not the paralytic’s strength, effort, or worthiness. It was faith that drew Jesus close.

Anyone who wants to be brought near to God begins here.
By putting faith in Jesus.

Forgiveness Before Healing

What stands out even more is that Jesus did not heal him right away.

The intention was healing. That is obvious. Yet Jesus responded with forgiveness first. Nothing changed on the outside at that moment, but something far greater changed within him. He was forgiven. He was freed.

Healing came later, as proof of Jesus’ authority. But forgiveness came first.

Why does this matter?

Because forgiveness is what truly matters. Healing can happen even without faith. God, in His mercy, allows healing because He is gracious to all His creation. But forgiveness of sin comes only when we bring our faith to God through Jesus.

What Jesus Always Does When We Truly Seek Him

And that is what stayed with me.

Jesus heals, yes. But healing is not always His first response.

What He surely does when we truly seek Him is this.

He sees our faith.
He calls us friend.
And He forgives our sins.

An Invitation to Continue in Faith

So we were called friend, and we were forgiven.
And somehow, that alone already brings comfort.

Jesus sees your faith.
He calls you friend.
And He forgives your sins.

That is where relationship begins.

So continue in faith.
Continue to persevere.
Continue to ask.

Ask Jesus. Seek Him. Knock, even when the way feels closed.

If you are seeking healing, know that Jesus heals.
If you are seeking forgiveness, know that Jesus forgives.

And whatever it is you are carrying right now, bring it to Him.

Friendship with Jesus draws us near, and through Him, we learn to come to God as Father. Not with fear, but with trust. Not as strangers, but as children.

So ask the Father, through the Son.
Come as you are.
And keep walking in faith.

John 14:6 (WEB) : Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.”

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Ruth and Boaz: Love Shaped by Faithfulness

An Urgent Call: Repent and Turn Back to God


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