"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice" - Proverbs 27:9 (NIV). 

Jesus was a man of friends. Once in his work he was prompted to turn around when he mentioned, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up" (John 11:11). He would later go on to raise his friend from the dead (vv 38-44).

Besides, there were other friends of Jesus a number of whom he walked with daily. There were the 12 disciples. "These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;  Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him" (Mathew 10:2-4).

Jesus's friends crossed gender. There was of course Mary and Martha who lived in Bethany, siblings of Lazurus. It is well noted, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus" (John 11:5).

The friendship Jesus had were not purposeless. There was a mission about them- as they all knew he was there to serve his father in heaven. We in life can also have friendship across the divide.Yet as we see in the case of Jesus, our friendships should be intentional by drawing such to Him.

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for the gift of friendship and I pray that I purpose to point to all my friends to you as Lord and Saviour, this I pray in Jesus's name.