Friends All Gone

Matthew 26:55, 56 (New Living Translation)

“Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day.But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.”

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when your “friends” deserted you? Maybe you thought they were your friends, but when the “journey” got too tough, suddenly you realized you were walking alone. They may have been your friends for a season or they may have been friends who never wanted to go deeper into the relationship. I’ve been there, and you’ve been there, and Jesus has been there too.

In His darkest hour, His closest friends referred to in scripture as His “disciples” all ran away from Him. One betrayed Him and one denied knowing Him or hanging out with Him. Others fell asleep on Him while He was praying, and others watched from a distance to see what would happen to their leader and friend.

How could Jesus consider these men His friends after what they did?

“He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.” (John 13:1b) He loved them, and He had invested His time with them, training them to be His disciples. He was emotionally invested with them, and they with Him. They knew He loved them, even when they were running away from Him. And it was His love that compelled them to return to Him, seek forgiveness and continue to the mission He called them too.

May you be a friend who sticks close to those around you, even when you don’t agree or struggle to make sense of it all. May this proverb inspire you to reach out and be a friend… “There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

May you be a friend to Jesus and may you not desert Him when life gets hard or when He asks you to do hard things.