Shabat Thoughts - He Calls Me Friend

One of the songs John loves to play in worship here at home is "I Am  A Friend Of God".  The song, taken in part from Psalms 8:3-4 poignantly wonders how God, Creator of All, can be focused upon something so finite and small as  a single soul when the heavens are so vast:

 

Who am I that You are mindful of me

That You hear me when I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me
How You love me

It's amazing

(Chorus)
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend

God Almighty, Lord of Glory
You have called me friend

 But most of all the song reminds that God wants a personal relationship with me, with you, with each of us.    

  Friendship. 

friend (fr?nd) —n: 1. a person known well to another and regarded with liking, affection, and loyalty; an intimate: 2. an acquaintance or associate 

FRIEND 1a :  one attached to another by affection or esteem

                                                     b :  acquaintance

                                                  2a :  one that is not hostile

                                                    b :  one that is of the same nation, party, or group

                                                  3:  one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)

                                                  4:  a favored companion 

This morning as I read my Bible, I was in Matthew 26.  Imagine my surprise when I read this about Judas and Jesus in the garden on the Mount of Olives.  Judas has betrayed Christ.  Jesus has spent the night in prayer, knowing the betrayal is in motion.  As Judas approaches he tells his companions that he will go to and kiss the one they are to take.  As he approaches Jesus he says, "Rabbi..." 

Matthew 26:50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

 Friend.   He called Judas friend.  Judas, who was betraying Him. The man who had stolen from the treasury, the man who resented the woman pouring out her perfume upon Jesus, the one who dared to sit at the table and eat the Passover meal, while the coins he'd gained to betray his Rabbi were in his purse...

God as Man, Jesus, knowing all, said, "Friend..."

When I read that this morning, tears welled in my eyes.  Why have I never seen this before?  Even while he knew Judas as a man unable to break the bindings of his sinful nature, He called that broken man, Friend.

When I fail, when I falter in my steps and sin, when I feel I am nothing, I am reminded through this verse that Christ still loves me enough, longs for my obedience so, that He calls me, as He did Judas, 'Friend', offering me still the opportunity to repent, to turn back, to be His, to lean upon Himself as my Friend.