TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
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!
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! 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.
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”