FRIEND, WHY HAVE YOU COME? Daily Devotional, March 13, 2013

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

20 Days to Resurrection Sunday

Matthew 26:50 “Friend, wherefore art thou come?”

SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 26:46-56

⁴⁶Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

 ⁴⁷And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

 ⁴⁸Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

 ⁴⁹And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

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

 ⁵¹And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

 ⁵²Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

 ⁵³Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

 ⁵⁴But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

 ⁵⁵In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

 ⁵⁶But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

REFLECTION:  Judas kissed Jesus.  What a sinner.

Jesus called Judas “Friend.” (Matthew 26:50) What a Savior.

The sincerity of sinners is always suspect.  When men relax their grasp of Truth—the Person and the principle—Satan inevitably takes advantage.  The Bible says specifically, “Satan entered into Judas.” Slowly but wholly the enemy was given control.  The Apostle Paul speaks of degenerates who “glory in their shame.”(Philippians 3:19).  Have you ever noticed how backsliders are notable for advertising their super-spirituality, unashamedly exhibiting their new found “liberty,” and fellowshipping with others who like themselves have lost their fear and love of God. Finally every vestige of virtue is lost.  What appear to be expressions of love (i.e. a kiss) become hypocritical displays.  It is no wonder Judas couldn’t stand himself.

In contrast the integrity of Christ is never in doubt.

When Jesus called Judas “Friend” there is no doubt but that He meant it.  Only hours before they were sitting together at the Passover table.  Jesus knew what Judas had done.  He knew what Judas was doing.  And He knew what Judas was going to do.

So why did Jesus call Judas “Friend?”

…First and foremost it must be to show that Christ loved him, “unto the end.” 

…Second, it was our Lord’s last effort to convince the betrayer to repent of his horrid plot. Christ knew that once Satan had used Judas, he would throw him away on the rocks in the field of blood. (Matthew 27:8).

…Third, it was to show us how to face persecution—returning good for evil.

…Finally, it was to remind us that if we are lost, it will not be because our Lord was against us. 

Remember our Lord’s parable of the man who gained access to the wedding feast without having on the wedding garment. The King of the feast asked him, “Friend, how camest thou in here not having on the wedding garment?” (Matthew 22:12).  Sure the man was cast out of the feast for failing to wear the robe the King provided, yet the King still called him “Friend.”

Judgment is not based on whether or not God loves us.  That is settled.  He is the best friend we will ever know.  Judgment is based on whether or not we love God.  Will it be said of us, as it was of Abraham, “He was the friend of God.”(2 Chronicles 20:7, James 2:23).

Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!

By Warren D. Cornell

Jesus what a friend of sinners,
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole!

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

            By J. Wilbur Chapman

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, “What a Friend we have in Jesus!”  Our hearts are stirred when we think that you sent your Only Begotten Son into this world to be a friend to the friendless.  We pray that throughout this day we will remember that our Friend is with us. May that knowledge bring courage when we are fearful, bring confidence when we are in doubt, bring salvation when we have strayed, and bring heaven when we stand before Thee.  May we so live that at the close of our life’s short day, it will be said of us, as it was of Abraham, “He was the friend of God.”  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.“Our Father, &c”