As we celebrate the royal majesty of the Son of God seated on His throne in heaven, how wonderful it is to celebrate at the same time the fact that this divine sovereign has also joyfully condescended to become the friend of sinners. He said to His disciples (and to us today) in John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants …. Instead I have called you friends.” How amazing that the second person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus, the Son of God, identifies those of us who have been united to Him by faith as His friends! Imagine that He were actually speaking about you by name in a public address, and said, “(insert your name here) is My friend.”
Think of how many times in His earthly ministry Jesus acted to demonstrate that He was the friend of sinners. There was the woman caught in adultery. There was Zacchaeus the tax collector. There was the woman at the well. And let’s don’t forget Saul of Tarsus! The Scribes and Pharisees looked down on Jesus for this very reason. They were disgusted that Jesus was the friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19). But what great hope that gives us when we recognize ourselves as sinners (the first step in embracing the gospel), to realize that Jesus comes to us as a friend. He is the one we should immediately think of when we read Proverbs 18:24 about a friend that sticks closer than a brother. And of course, we should also recall John 15:13, where Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” And that’s exactly what He has done for us.
Wilbur Chapman’s wonderful hymn, “Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners,” addresses this very directly. And so does the 1863 hymn “I’ve Found a Friend, O Such a Friend,” written by James Grindlay Small (1817-1888). We know little about him, and have no pictures of him. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was converted in 1843. After graduating from Edinburgh High School, he studied with Thomas Chalmers and became a minister of the Free Church of Scotland in 1847, serving at the Free Church of Bervie, near Montrose. He published two volumes of poetry, “The Highlands and Other Poems” in 1843, and “Songs of the Vineyard in Days of Gloom and Sadness” in 1846. It was said that certain peculiarities of speech and manner in the pulpit kept him from being a success in Bervie. However, he was a gentle and godly man. Other clergymen recognized his sincerity and ability and he was made clerk of the presbytery. Greatly interested in hymnology, Small published “Hymns for Youthful Voices” in 1859. His most famous hymn, “I’ve Found a Friend,” was first published in The “Revival Hymn Book,” second series, in 1863. Originally entitled “Jesus, the Friend,” it was later included in Small’s own “Psalms and Sacred Songs” of 1866.
Before examining the lyrics, take a few moments to think about what makes someone a friend, and how marvelous it is that such things are true of Jesus, not just by our observation of Him but by We all enjoy a select group of people in our circles whom we consider friends. They may include classmates in school (even years later) or workplace partners and associates. Certainly this should include family, especially our spouse. Jesus’ own description of Himself as our friend. In fact, it might seem mor than presumptuous for us call Him “friend,” but it is actually just the opposite. Since He has called us “friends,” it would be dishonoring to Him for us to refuse to accept that, and to speak to Him in that intimate language.
A friend will not abandon us when others turn away. He’ll remain with us, and will even stick up for us and defend us when others bring accusations against us. Think how Jesus has assured us that He will defend us on the day of judgment when Satan, the accuser, challenges God that we are unworthy. Jesus will silence that demon from hell with His strong testimony that He has claimed us as His own, has taken our sin on Himself, and has imputed to us His own perfect righteousness.
A friend understands our motivations and inner desires, even when we act on them imperfectly. One of the most painful things in life is when others assign motives to us that we never harbored for a moment, perhaps motives of pride or criticism or resentment. But a friend knows us well enough to know that our actual motive was selfless, wanting to help others, and to honor the Lord. Jesus knows our hearts better than we know ourselves, and even when others can’t see it, He sees that we love Him and want to please Him in all we do.
A friend stays near to encourage us in the hard times when we are disappointed in ourselves, or when it seems like we are stuck and can’t get through some difficulty. It might be a health issue or a financial problem or a relational issue that has gotten out of control. When that happens, and it does!, a friend will wrap compassionate arms around us to assure us that we are loved and cared for … and not alone. Jesus has promised us, as our Good Shepherd, that He will be with us even in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
A friend wants what is best for us. A friend loves to give or advise so as to make the friend’s life more fulfilling and satisfying. It matches what Paul wrote to the people of Corinth when he said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Think of the happiness we experience when a Christmas or birthday or anniversary gift brings such joy to the one to whom we have given it. So it is with Jesus who Zephaniah 3:17 tells us rejoices over us (with the Father) and exults over us with singing. We remember, too, in the words of Psalm 116:15, that even in our death, this is precious I the sight of the Lord.
Perhaps best of all, a friend will continue to be a friend even when we act in ways that would make us unworthy and could threaten to turn that friend against us. How amazing when we do that, and our friend comes near to assure us that the friendship holds steady. No one is a better friend than Jesus, since we repeatedly betray our friendship with Him by our behavior and attitude, whether careless or deliberate. But He’s still there for us and with us. Remember, for example, how Peter denied three times that he even knew Jesus on the night of His arrest. But what instruction did Jesus give on Easter morning? “Go and tell the disciples … and Peter.”
At the heart of it all is real love, not the world’s kind of love which is just a feeling that comes and goes when things are going the way we like them. No, the love which Jesus has for sinners is the sacrificial love that drove Him to Calvary’s cross “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). The love unlike any ordinary human which led Him to lay down His love for us His friends!
Stanza 1 says that Jesus is our Friend because He loves us. One of the incredible thigs about this love is that it was set upon us before we knew Him, indeed, before we even existed. The names of the elect were inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8 and 17:8). The inspired apostle John affirms over and over the great love which Jesus had for us (1 John 3:16). This love should draw and bind us to Him as with cords just as God’s love was designed to lead Israel to God (Hosea 11:4). Such ties will closely twine around our hearts and never be severed if we determine to be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10).
I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend!
He loved me ere I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords of love,
And thus He bound me to Him.
And round my heart still closely twine
Those ties which naught can sever,
For I am His, and He is mine,
Forever and forever.
Stanza 2 says that Jesus is our Friend because He died to save us. It was because of God’s love for us that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Those who have been saved by His love and death understand that nothing that we have is our own but that all things come from the Lord (1 Chronicles 29:14). Therefore, we in return should love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).
I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend!
He bled, He died to save me;
And not alone the gift of life,
But His own Self He gave me!
Naught that I have mine own I call,
I’ll hold it for the Giver,
My heart, my strength, my life, my all
Are His, and His forever.
Stanza 3 says that Jesus is our Friend because He is our Guard in this life. As the One who died to save us, Jesus has all power to protect us spiritually (Matthew 28:18-20). His aim is that we might continue on our onward course and press on to gain the prize (Philippians 3:13-14). To help motivate us, He sets the eternal glories before us that we might watch, work, and war, as we run the race (Hebrews 12:1-2).
I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend!
All pow’r to Him is given,
To guard me on my onward course,
And bring me safe to heaven.
Th’ eternal glories gleam afar,
To nerve my faint endeavor;
So now to watch, to work, to war,
And then to rest forever.
Stanza 4 says that Jesus is our Friend because He is our Guide to eternal life. Jesus is certainly kind and true and tender, because it is by His divine kindness and mercy that we can be saved (Titus 3:4-5). Also, He is a wise Counselor and Guide, and a mighty Defender to aid us in our temptations (Hebrews 2:17-18). This great Friend will protect us so that if we follow Him, nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39).
I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend!
So kind and true and tender,
So wise a Counselor and Guide,
So mighty a Defender!
From Him who loves me now so well
What pow’r my soul can sever?
Shall life or death, shall earth or hell?
No! I am His forever.
In 1875, Arthur S. Sullivan provided a melody for the lyrics d (CONSTANCE-SULLIVAN), but the tune best known in this country (FRIEND) was composed in 1878 by George Coles Stebbins (1846-1945). In January of that year, Stebbins, a well-known gospel song composer of the late 1800’s and early 1900s. He was born in Orleans County, New York, where he spent the first 23 years of his life on a farm. In 1869, he moved to Chicago, which marked the beginning of his musical career.
He became the musical director of Chicago’s First Baptist Church in 1870, a position he held until the autumn of 1874, when he resigned to take up residence in Boston. It was during his residence in Chicago he became acquainted with Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey and also with Philip Paul Bliss and Maor D. W. Whittle, both of whom early joined the great evangelistic movement inaugurated by Moody. Shortly after his move to Boston, Stebbins became the musical director of the Clarendon Street Baptist Church where Adoniram Judson Gordon was minister. In January 1876 he became the musical director of Tremont Temple, alongside George O. Lorimer.
In the summer of that year Stebbins had occasion to spend a few days with Moody at his home in Northfield, Massachusetts where Moody persuaded him to enter evangelistic work under Moody’s direction, which Stebbins did that autumn. Stebbins first work in this connection was to organize the choir for the meetings which Moody and Sankey were to hold in the great building erected for them in Chicago and which were to continue through October, November, and December. During the remainder of the season Stebbins assisted other evangelists, and in the summer following he became one of the editors of “Gospel Hymns” and subsequently of the series of songbooks used by Moody during the remainder of his life. Afterward Stebbins became the sole editor of the “Northfield Hymnal.”
Stebbins married Elma Miller before commencing his musical career. When he began his evangelistic work, she became actively involved, assisting him most efficiently in his singing, besides conducting meetings and giving Bible readings for ladies. In the autumn of 1890, Stebbins, with his wife and son, went with Pentecost to India for a season of work among the English-speaking inhabitants of that country. During their stay there Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins and their son gave services of song in several of the principal cities of the country. On their return home they gave services of song also in Egypt and in Palestine and then in Naples, Rome, Florence, Paris, and London.
From the beginning of Moody’s work in Northfield, Stebbins remained as one of the leaders of the singing at the summer conferences there and was the only one having official connection with the work at all general conferences for their first 30 years. He was also the last surviving member of the original group of men Moody had associated with him in his evangelistic work.
Regarding Stebbins’ work, aside from his occupying important positions in churches and his leadership in the great movement with which he was connected for so many years, he was frequently engaged to lead the singing at international and state conventions of YMCA, Sunday Schools, Christian Endeavor, and other religious gatherings. Among these gatherings were the two greatest of the Christian Endeavor conventions, one held in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, at which there were 30 thousand delegates, and one held in Boston when there were 50 thousand present. There was also the great Ecumenical Missionary conference held in Carnegie Hall and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the American YMCA in Boston.
During these years his voice was not only heard in leading others, but it was also in constant demand in solo singing and on many occasions in singing with Sankey and others. Stebbins was well equipped in the musical department of his work, as well as in the others, for he studied voice with some of the most celebrated teachers in the United States. Much as his voice was heard in different parts of the world, he is remembered foremost by the music which he composed, which has long survived him and demonstrated an appeal across time and cultural boundaries. Stebbins’ lasting legacy, the hymns that have become gospel music classics. Among those are “Jesus Is Calling,” “Jesus I Come,” “Have Thine Own Way, Lord,” and “Take Time to Be Holy.”
Here’s a link to listen and sing along with this wonderful gospel song.