We Are True Friends

But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”

— Matthew 26:50 (NKJ)

We all know who Judas Iscariot was – the disciple  who betrayed Jesus and yet, did you know that Jesus called Judas “friend” after he is betrayed? How can this be? Because surely Judas must’ve been some kind of monster, or evil intentioned person.  How could he give up the Son of God in exchange for a few measly silver coins? Is this the value he has for the Son of God? He knew who Jesus was. He had been with Jesus for three and a half years. He had seen the amazing miracles and love that flowed from Jesus!  How could he betray the Son of God?

And yet Jesus, the Savior, calls him friend. What an amazing statement . . . friend.  

Really? He surely was not acting like a friend. The word friend is a covenant word and because of the covenant, we see the love of God evidenced. Jesus declares to the traitor that he is still a son of the covenant, a friend. This statement has to do with who Judas was, not what Judas did. Judas was a Jew, a son of Abraham, making him a child of the Covenant. That was his identity. Jesus is giving him an opportunity to change his mind by reminding him of who he really is.

A person in covenant with another is given the title of friend. That was a part of the covenant. Jesus is saying I see you as ”friend”, not based on your behavior, but based on who you are. We are friends and we are true friends. 

Jesus is telling Judas who he is and reminding him of his true identity; he is a friend not a traitor. He is giving Judas the chance to accept this identity no matter what he has just done. You are a child of the covenant, Judas. You are loved. Jesus is asking Judas if he will accept who he really is and repent. He is asking Judas to accept his true identity, to see himself as God sees him, a covenant friend.

Judas is so blinded by his own desire to see Jesus build his Kingdom and take over the Roman Empire that he can not accept his true identity . . . who he is in the eyes of God . . . one who is loved and in covenant with God. Soon guilt, condemnation and remorse would overtake him. 

As was Judas, you and I, as believers, are in covenant with the Father through Jesus. The Covenant was not made with you or me because we could never keep it. However, Abba made the Covenant with Jesus who has kept it for us and who represents us. Since we are “in” Christ, we, too, are in covenant with the Father. We are not only his child, but his “friend”. 

What an amazing example of God’s love for His children. It is never too late to turn back to the Father even when we feel that we have messed up badly. Jesus shows us that in this remarkable incident. Betraying the Son of God was the most horrible act a person could ever do and yet . . . Judas was being given a chance to let go of his opinions, an opportunity to admit his wrong and change his mind. It would not have saved Jesus at this point, but he could have saved himself.

Jesus saw through Judas’ behavior to his true identity.  

No matter what you have done or how you have messed up, accept the forgiveness of Jesus and let go of your opinions. Forgive yourself. Then move forward in your true identity. Move forward in His love.

“He calls me Friend”.