No Longer Servants But Friends (John 15:15)
Quick Summary
In John 15:15, Jesus tells his disciples that he no longer calls them servants but friends. This marks a shift in relationship: they are invited into intimacy with him, entrusted with knowledge of the Father’s will, and bound together in love.
Introduction
One of the most remarkable moments in Jesus’ farewell discourse comes in John 15:15. Having just spoken of the command to love and the willingness to lay down one’s life for friends, Jesus tells the disciples that they themselves are his friends. This is not casual language. In a world where friendship implied equality, loyalty, and shared life, Jesus redefines the relationship between himself and those who follow him. No longer are they simply servants obeying commands without understanding. They are friends who are welcomed into the knowledge of God’s purposes and the intimacy of Christ’s love. This verse lifts the tone of discipleship from duty alone to the joy of belonging.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of John 15:15 and Commentary
John 15:15 – “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.”
The word “servants” (Greek doulos) can also be translated “slaves.” In the ancient world, servants obeyed orders without access to the reasoning of the master. Their role was obedience without explanation. By contrast, Jesus elevates his disciples: they are not kept in the dark but are given insight into God’s plan.
“I have called you friends” is profound. Friendship in the Greco-Roman world carried high value, often associated with loyalty, mutual benefit, and even political alliances. To be named a friend of Jesus is to share in his mission, his knowledge of the Father, and his sacrificial love. This recalls Abraham, who was called a “friend of God” (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). Now, through Christ, this friendship is extended to all disciples.
The phrase “everything I have heard from my Father” emphasizes revelation. Jesus holds nothing back. Unlike esoteric religions of the time that guarded secrets for the initiated, Jesus freely shares the Father’s will with his friends. This transparency underscores that friendship with Christ is rooted in trust and intimacy, not secrecy.
Scripture echoes this theme elsewhere. Paul writes that the Spirit reveals “the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Hebrews describes Jesus as the one who makes known the Father fully (Hebrews 1:1–2). Friendship with Christ is thus marked by knowledge, love, and shared mission.
Meaning for Today (John 15:15)
For modern disciples, this verse offers a staggering truth: Christianity is not simply servanthood—it is friendship with Christ. Yes, believers are called to obedience and service, but Jesus elevates the relationship into intimacy. This reshapes prayer: we do not approach a distant master but a trusted friend. It reshapes mission: we serve not out of fear but love.
It also challenges us. Friendship with Jesus is not casual or sentimental. True friendship requires loyalty and alignment with his mission. Just as Jesus disclosed the Father’s will to his friends, he calls his friends to bear fruit and embody his love. Friendship with Christ comes with responsibility: to walk in his truth, to love one another, and to share his heart with the world.
Finally, this verse speaks comfort to those who feel lonely or unseen. To be called a “friend” by Christ is to be forever included, known, and loved. The Church’s role, then, is to extend this friendship outward—to embody the hospitality and openness that Christ himself has shown.
FAQ on John 15:15
1. Why does Jesus contrast servants and friends?
Servants obey without explanation; friends are included in the master’s purposes. Jesus elevates his disciples to partners in God’s plan.
2. Does this mean Christians are no longer servants of Christ?
No—Scripture still calls believers servants (Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1). But servanthood is now redefined within friendship. Obedience remains, but it is rooted in intimacy and love.
3. How does Jesus make us his friends?
By revealing the Father’s will, sharing his love, and ultimately laying down his life. Friendship with Christ is secured in his sacrifice and sustained by abiding in him.
4. What does this teach us about prayer?
Prayer is not approaching a distant authority but speaking with a trusted friend. It encourages honesty, intimacy, and confidence in God’s love.
5. How can we live as Christ’s friends today?
By abiding in his word, loving one another, bearing fruit, and participating in his mission. Friendship with Christ calls us to live in alignment with his love and truth.
6. How does this verse connect to Abraham as a “friend of God”?
Just as Abraham’s friendship with God was rooted in trust and obedience, so too disciples are drawn into friendship through faith, revelation, and loyalty to Christ.
Works Consulted
Raymond Brown, The Gospel According to John (AB), Vol. 2, pp. 678–679.
D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (PNTC), pp. 525–527.
Gail O’Day, John (NIB, Vol. 9), pp. 739–740.
Craig Keener, The Gospel of John, Vol. 2, pp. 1020–1023.
Andreas Köstenberger, John (BECNT), pp. 455–458.
