Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor. 15:58

design

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Day 83: "My Friend"

Matthew 26:50
Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for."

***********************

Pam asked yesterday if I wrote these verses in my own words.  No, they are actual verses (I do like to re-write them sometimes for my own purposes), but I use the New Living Translation version of the Bible. I love it :) It is so easy for me to understand.  Sometimes I'll be reading and go, "AH!"  I have nothing against any other translation. I figure you have the choice to pick which one you like. I just happen to like this one :)

Look at today's verse again: Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." (NLT)

Lets look some more.  Here are some more versions of the same verse...

50And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him. (KJV)

50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[a]
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. (NLT)

50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. (NKJV)

50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. (AMP)

****************

I'll stop there, but do you see the trend here?  Jesus always is seen calling Judas Friend.

Even at the end... even when he knew he was looking at the person who was betraying him... who would ultimately lead to his death... he called him "Friend".

Sometimes people do us wrong.  There are some people who we never would think of as a true friend.  Oh sure, maybe an acquaintance... a "person I know"... a "person who has done me wrong, but I have to love anyway."

Jesus wasn't like that.  He loved Judas as a friend until the very end.  And he loves us to the end-- even when we think we don't deserve it. 

This verse was in my Bible in 90 days reading and it really hit me. 

Friend.

If no other thing in the Bible caused a person to doubt that Jesus was truly special or the Messiah, that should.  He didn't hate the people who were going to kill him. He didn't hate Judas.  He was his friend.

Can you imagine the hurt Jesus had to have felt?

We have all been hurt/disappointed by our friends in the past.  I dare say not many of us have been betrayed to our 'enemies' and killed, but the idea is the same.  It hurts. They say that no one can hurt you like someone you love.

Jesus was hurt by Judas' actions-- even though he knew it was necessary.

But he never gave up on him. He never called him anything other than Friend.

Now days, *we* might call Judas some words that I can't print on a Christian blog lol.  They wouldn't be nice. 

I'm also mentioning this because we are learning to 'love our neighbor' at Oh That Mom Again during our Bible Study on 1 Corinthians 13.  Jesus truly loved everyone. From the big to the small.  From the good to the evil. 

We will never exactly be as perfect as Jesus.... but we are supposed to live by his example.

Do you think you could call the person who was handing you over to be killed "Friend"?

God Bless You, Kelly

Linked with: Brag on God


5 comments:

  1. I have read that scripture dozens of times and never noticed that Jesus called Judas friend. Very enlightening post, Kelly. Thanks1
    Pam at www.2encourage.blogspot.com

    P.S. My favorite version of the Bible is Good News (probably because that is the version I found right after my salvation experience), but this year I have been reading from the New Living and enjoying that also.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Kelly - some very timeous words for me. We have family trying to do us great injustice, and I so don't think of them as 'friend' but am striving to forgive and pray for them.
    God bless
    Tracy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pam, I've never read that version. I hadn't noticed he called him 'Friend' either.

    Tracy, its hard... it really is... when people do that to you. I know that it is worth it though.

    Thanks for taking the time to comment :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yikes.
    I try to be nice. I try to turn the other cheek. I try not to hold a grudge.
    But "friend?"
    Now THAT's tough.
    That's really amazing stuff there.
    The Bible never ceases to amaze me and humble me.
    Thank you so much for sharing this today.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks Amy. Yeah, its difficult.. it's SO difficult.

    ReplyDelete