The Electrifying Love of Jesus
Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Matthew 26:49-50
Some people who are badly beaten up by life wonder why they seek to serve God. “After all how can He love me and I still get into a mess like this?” It’s easy to get discouraged when we seek to do good and all that we receive in return is evil. How can we think of ourselves as beloved by the Lord when He’s so distant from us in our needy moments?
If you’re someone who has sought to serve the Lord and you have the notion that you’re not loved by Him, take heart. You need a view of how extensive the love of Jesus is in order to be affirmed in your faith.
Perhaps the most infamous person in history is Judas Iscariot. He’s commonly recognized as a scoundrel of the first order. We’re stunned to think that he could betray the One who loved him so much and gave him the same blessings that the other apostles had.
Jesus honoured Judas above the others by giving him responsibility for the money collected to fund the little band. At the Last Supper Jesus gave Judas the honour of having the sop—which was reserved for a very special person at the feast.
After all the privileges Jesus bestowed on him, Judas was able to sell Jesus for the price of a slave and actively seek an opportune time to do the act of betrayal.
You see in our text that in spite of all the evil of Judas’ life, such as stealing from the treasury of the group (John 12:6), and being a traitor—Jesus called him friend.
How can you call a person “Friend” when he has just sold you out? How can you speak kindly to someone determined to destroy you? Well, Jesus loves sinners and regardless of how terribly they use and abuse Him, He is willing to call them “Friend.”
So if you’ve tried to serve Jesus, knowing that you have been a poor Christian in many ways (yet you seek to honour Him in your life), you have a lot to remember from our text. Your motives are good. You desire to serve the Lord. Perhaps you feel you have not done as you ought—well, remember Judas. He was actively evil and bent on ending Jesus’ mission, yet Jesus called him “Friend.”
If Jesus could be so kind at such a moment to such an evil person, how much kinder and loving will He be to you in your distress? You who seek to honour Jesus, not destroy Him, imagine the tender words of affection He has reserved for you.
Jesus’ love for Judas was amazing to let Him call Judas by such a gentle name. The loving and tender words He has for you are beyond amazing, they are unspeakably wonderful. Go enjoy the love of Jesus, you who seek His face.