Are You a “Facebook Friend” of Jesus?

I was recently on Facebook, which likes to remind people of upcoming birthdays. Well, there was a notice in my messages to wish my dear sister-in-law a happy birthday. The only problem being, she tragically passed away several years back and her account is still up in Facebook. I clicked on her page to reminisce a bit, and discovered that twenty people had posted birthday well-wishes this year, of which only two were acknowledged as heavenly birthdays. The other eighteen had no knowledge of her passing! The term “Facebook Friend” here clearly illustrates how mere acquaintances show their lack of really knowing the person in question. Today’s SOAP devotional addresses how true friendship is lived out and experienced through fellowship, showing respect, and feeling deep attachment and love.

Scripture: “Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’…And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, ‘Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”

Observation: It was common practice to give public honor to the Pharisees by calling them the preferred title of ‘Rabbi.” They desired the title for its value in casting them as someone respectable, giving them power and influence in society. Note here how Judas opts to use this title, and not “Lord” or in the Greek, “Kyrios.” That title was chosen by the believing disciples who knew Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah, the Supreme Ruler. Judas, on the other hand, chose the title ‘Rabbi,” indicating his complete spiritual blindness. It is used to make it appear a sign of respect, but given that Judas is addressing the Christ, the Son of the living God, it is most disrespectful. Given the fact his plan is to betray Jesus, it is also used as flattery, seeing Judas knew he would be starting a chain of events that would lead to Jesus’ arrest and death. The hypocrisy of Judas’ life as a disciple of Christ has now finally culminated in his own treachery against the One who until the end called him “friend.”

Application: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing: but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15) Consider the great honor it is to be called Jesus’ friends! We are so named by our Lord Himself, not because of our own appealing natures, but because He makes known to us His Father’s heart and has chosen us and appointed us to bear fruit that lasts eternally. Do we cherish this relationship? Do we take time to fellowship with our Lord daily, or are we too busy for the Lord of Glory over all creation? Or is Jesus just another teacher among many to us, whom we flatter with a respectable title but have no heart to love or obey? Beloved, it is so easy to fall into friendship with the world and deny our Lord His proper place. Remember, we are destined to overcome the world through faith in our Savior, just as He overcame the world through constant fellowship with His Father. Please recognize how subtle our enemy is, and how weak our flesh is apart from God’s hand of grace upon us and prayer.

Prayer: Abba, please call us to Yourself and put in our hearts a desire to seek You, for You promise that those who earnestly seek You will find You, and You will be their reward. May we pray like Asaph, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever…for me it is good to be near God.” (Psalm 73:25-28) Father, please forgive us when we get distracted by the carnival attractions of this world and fail to honor You as You deserve. You willed for our salvation through Jesus at His great cost. Let us also lay down our lives for our Greatest Friend. In Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen.