Jesus Our True Friend

31st June 2021

“Et tu, Brute ?” ( You too Brutus ?)  were the words of Julius Caesar even as he turned to see his dear friend Brutus, plunge a knife into his back in a bitter betrayal of friendship. And with those words he fell down dead.  In Psalm 55 David pours out his emotions having been betrayed by his close companion, friend and counsellor, Ahithophel . Psa 55:12-14 If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God. Mathew Henry paraphrases these verses “It was thou, a man, my equal, one whom I esteemed as myself, a friend as my own soul, whom I had laid in my bosom and made equal with myself, to whom I had communicated all my secrets and who knew my mind as well as I myself did, – my guide, with whom I advised and by whom I was directed in all my affairs, whom I made president of the council and prime-minister of state, – my intimate acquaintance and familiar friend; this is the man that now abuses me. I have been kind to him, but I find him thus basely ungrateful. I have put a trust in him, but I find him thus basely treacherous.”      

It was in the garden of Gethsamane . Judas had arranged to betray Jesus with a kiss. How did Jesus respond to Judas kiss. We read   Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. Mat 26:48-50  In fact, just a few hours earlier Jesus had washed Judas feet, allowed Judas to partake in the Passover meal, knowing fully well that Judas would betray Him.  And after Judas had left the upper room, Jesus went on to call His disciples friends. Yet, His friends deserted Him when He was arrested and Peter, even went on to deny his very relationship with Jesus.  

But what about Jesus, how good a Friend is He to us? In order that we could be Jesus’ friends,  Jesus left His Glory and came down to this earth to take on flesh and blood and be found like His friends. But who is Jesus ? Jesus is the creator of this universe , He is the creator of mankind, He is the omnipotent God, a Holy God and His wisdom is immeasurable. Men are in no measure equal to Him , in fact mankind is Nothing in comparison to Jesus . Yet to become our Friend Jesus became Nothing – became man. But Jesus knew we will never ever be His friends for we were under the wrath of a Holy God and would spend eternity separated from Him. So Jesus came to reconcile us with God through His sacrifice on the Cross. On the Cross, Jesus took on Himself the sins of His friends, bore the wrath of God , came under the judgement of God and took the punishment that His friends justly deserved. Jesus gave His own Righteousness to His friends, thus reconciling them with a Holy God . Jesus told His disciples “Joh 15:13  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. And Jesus did lay down His life for us, His friends. Jesus is now our true friend. A friendship that is unlike any friendship found on earth. Jesus is with us 24/7, 365 days, all the days of our life. He is with us in our deepest anguish and in all our joys. He knows our every thought and yet loves us with a Steadfast Love. Even at times when we are unfaithful to Him He is always faithful to us. Jesus is constantly praying for us. He loves to hear us speak to Him and pour our heart out to Him. Jesus will never misunderstand us. He will neither judge us nor condemn us. His one desire is that one day we will be with Him in His physical presence and enjoy Him through eternity. Jesus will never, ever unfriend us . What a friend we have in Jesus.  

I have a Friend, whose faithful love
Is more than all the world to me:
’Tis higher than the heights above,
And deeper than the soundless sea;
    Before the earth received its frame, So old, so new, So strong, so true;
He loved me—Blessed be His name!

Then dawned at last that day of dread,
When desolate, yet undismayed,
With wearied frame and thorn-crowned head,
He, God-forsaken, man-betrayed,
    Was then made sin, On Calvary,
And, dying there in grief and shame,
He saved me—Blessed be His name!

Long as I live my song shall tell
The wonders of His dying love;
And when at last I go to dwell
With Him His sovereign grace to prove,
    My joy shall be, His face to see,
And bowing there with loud acclaim
I’ll praise Him—Blessed be His name!

C.A.Tydeman Hymn: I have a Friend, whose faithful love (hymnal.net)