My Friend Come Back To Me

There are things that Jesus does that amaze me. Not the miracles, though they are amazing, not his teaching, though it is wonderful. It is the way Jesus can treat people even when they are their worst.

After a night in the garden praying like no man has ever prayed before, knowing what is about to happen and what is about to happen to him, he looks up and sees one of his own leading a mob to arrest him. Judas keeps up the innocent facade by kissing him, even though it is clear to Jesus and all those around what has just happened.

And then Jesus says this, "Friend, do what you have come for."(Matthew 26:50)

I can think of a lot of things I’d want to call Judas at that moment but friend isn’t one of them. Jesus knows what Judas has done, knows why he has done it, and even why it had to happen like this yet he still does not want to lose Judas.

Judas would not be the only friend of Jesus to turn on him that night. He would not be the only person to harm him, yet in all the betrayal and mockery and pain that would be lobbed at Jesus during this next day, his attitude would be the same, forgiveness, mercy, and love.

We sing the song What A Friend We Have In Jesus, but I wonder if we truly understand the kind of friend he is. Even when we are his enemy, he is our friend.

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