You are my friend

​There's a scene in the bible where Jesus is about to be betrayed by Judas. It looked like this:

While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.”  And he (Judas) came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.

I can picture that scene. The politicians and the religious leaders all worked up in a frenzy. It's not an uncommon scene in our own world these days - some thousands of years later. 

The chaos. The violence. The agendas. 

Within the intensity of that scene, the high drama, it's easy to overlook the next line in the story. 

Jesus looks at Judas, right in the eyes, close enough to feel that kiss of betrayal, and says, "friend, do what you came to do."

With everything that was going on around him, Jesus was making sure Judas knew one thing hadn't changed - Jesus was still about friendship.  

I can't help but wonder if Jesus wasn't sending a message with that powerful line, in the middle of that powerful scene. I can't help but wonder if Jesus wasn't giving us a forever reminder that nothing is more important than friendships. 

With social media, we all get a front row seat these days to watching friendships dissolve right before our eyes. 

Yet, there was Jesus, surrounded by clubs and swords, making sure his betrayer heard him say - you are my friend. 

I think in this world filled with all sorts of sides ganging up on one another, someone needs to hear you say, "friend." I think in the middle of a world that seems to make little sense, someone needs you to be the reminder that God created us because he wanted to be our friend. He wanted to hang out with us in a garden in the cool of the afternoon and help us discover the joy of togetherness. 

Sadly, Adam and Eve went looking for a joy outside of that friendship. 

In many ways, we do too. 

But even in the face of betrayal, Jesus never stops calling us friend. As we pick up our swords and clubs and fight for our causes, Jesus is hanging right by our side, close enough to make sure we can hear him call us by name: friend.