Friends will be friends

THE military conflict in Afghanistan has produced many examples of selfless bravery from soldiers and civilians in the line of fire – sometimes at the cost of the individual’s life.

Last month Private Thomas Sephton of the 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, died after being wounded in an explosion. His patrol was providing protection for a force clearing explosives.

‘Sefo was my closest friend,’ said Private Charlie Emina. ‘He loved his friends and family more than anything. He saved the lives of his section on two occasions and on that tragic day he saved my life and gave his own.’

Private Sephton’s commanding officer, Lieut-Colonel Andrew Hadfield, paid this tribute to him: ‘He was courageous and selfless to the last, placing himself in harm’s way to save others.’

The bond of true friendship can be deep and lasting. Most of us will never have to decide whether to lay down our life for our friends. But there will be times when we have to decide if we will put ourselves out for them.

Chapter two of Mark’s Gospel has an example of friends who did just that when they decided to take a paralysed friend to Jesus for healing.

The house that Jesus was in was crowded as many people wanted to meet him. There was no easy way into the house. The men had to lower their friend through the ceiling on a stretcher to give him access to Jesus. What an entrance! There were obvious barriers in reaching Jesus, but the friends committed themselves to helping their pal. Their efforts were rewarded – Jesus healed the paralysed man.

Jesus himself knew the importance of friendship. A verse often quoted at military memorial occasions are the words of Jesus: ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:13 New International Version).

Jesus put his words into action by taking the punishment for the wrong things we do when he died on a cross. His death and resurrection opened a way for us to have a friendship with God.

Jesus’ selfless act gives us the opportunity to experience a new life as God’s friend. If we accept that opportunity, we receive more help and support than we could ever imagine. Now that’s a friendship worth having.

UK War Cry - August 2010