Matthew 26:47-50
I’ve counseled plenty of people who argue that they are not
worthy of God’s love. Of all the passages I could point to that describe the
Lord’s devotion, today’s is the one I think best showcases the unqualified
friendship He offers His followers—even when they become wayward.
The night before His crucifixion, Jesus was praying at
Gethsemane when Judas Iscariot approached with a band of men. The betrayer
stepped forward and kissed the Lord. And what was Jesus’ response? According to
Matthew, one of the other disciples, the Lord called the man “friend.”
(See Matt. 26:50.)
Judas expected Jesus to establish His kingdom on earth and
drive the Romans out of Israel—surely anyone who could calm a storm at sea
could easily remove an oppressive government! But Judas’s interest in Jesus was
more personal and political than spiritual. In fact, John reported that his
fellow disciple stole from the money box (John 12:6). Today the man’s name is
synonymous with those who betray others for personal gain.
In spite of Judas’s greed, blind ambition, and betrayal,
Jesus never stopped loving him—and still used the word “friend” to address the
disciple. The Lord does not place conditions on His love or reject people who
fail to meet certain standards. He simply cares for us as we are.
We cannot earn Jesus Christ’s love and friendship. He takes
the initiative, reaches out, and draws into fellowship those who are willing.
None of us are worthy, but we are privileged to live in His love anyway. In the
Lord, we find a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24).
Thought for today:
Do we have friends who walk in integrity and encourage us to do the same?
No comments:
Post a Comment