Is Jesus your best friend?
When looking at the Old Testament and the characters who represent Jesus, David is probably the most obvious. He was the best king Israel ever had, while Jesus is the ultimate King of Kings. In fact, Jesus is often called the Son of David.
But did you know there is another figure in David’s life who reflects Jesus? It’s David’s best friend, Jonathan.
The son of King Saul became so close to David that he made a covenant with him and loved him as himself (1 Samuel 18:1-4).
Doesn’t that sound like the most amazing friend? You have a friend who loves you like that, and even more: Jesus!
Jesus made a covenant with us (Luke 22:20), one that is even greater than Jonathan’s, because he sealed it on the cross.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Jonathan gave David his robe and tunic (1 Samuel 18:4), whereas the Bible says that Jesus clothes us in garments of salvation and robes of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). Jonathan even gave David his armour, and similarly, our friend Jesus gives us the Armour of God (Ephesians 6:11-18).
David was a nobody when he met Jonathan, who was the son of the King, but Jonathan loved him nonetheless. Just as Jesus, the Son of God and King of Kings, loves ordinary people like us.
Jonathan promises David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you” (1 Samuel 20:4), and Jesus made a similar promise when He said, “Whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” – (John 15:16.)
Finally, Jonathan was a successor to his father’s throne. However, remarkably, Jonathan recognised that David, and not he, would be king (1 Samuel 23:17). For David to take the throne, Jonathan had to give up his own claim. Sound familiar?
This is another foreshadowing of Jesus, who gave up his position with the Father to reconcile us to God (Philippians 2:6-8).
Jesus wants to be your best, closest and dearest friend. If you struggle to relate to Jesus, who is also God, as a personal friend, imagine a friend like Jonathan and allow Jesus to be that kind of friend to you.
