Friends

I have to stop the flow of this series of Bible thoughts by inserting this entry about friends. People are so important to us in this life, to me personally and to you as well.


The Bible tells us of such great relationships. The two people who stand out to me as I look at the Bible are David and Jesus. And it seems appropriate to look at the personal friends of these two because Jesus was known as the "Son of David" (Mark 12:35). David, who would become the greatest King of the Old Testament, loved his best friend so much. Note I Samuel 18 & 20 for more on this, but I Sam. 18:3 says Jonathan "loved him as his own soul." These two were bonded.


In the New Testament we see the love that Jesus shared with Martha, Mary and Lazarus, three siblings. John 11 and the first part of 12 show us the depth of love and emotion that these four people shared. It was over in Luke 10:38-42 that Jesus said "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part..." But in John 11:5, Martha is named first, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." It was Martha who invited Jesus into their house in the first place (Luke 11:38). But it was Mary who anointed Jesus' feet with costly oil, using her hair (John 12:3). This was right before Jesus' death and the fragrance likely stayed with Him throught the death process; such love. And we see that through the sequence of events where Lazarus dies and Jesus raises him, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). The bond between these four was amazing. And we share these kinds of bonds in this life..........(There are other examples in the Bible such as Jesus and the disciple whom He loved, John. And there was Paul and Barnabus, Paul and Timothy and more.)


As we get older we realize more and more that it isn't where we are but who we are with. It isn't places and things that matter, but it is people that matter. My mother loved the beach more than any place on earth. But late in life we couldn't get her to go because she wanted to be close to her friends. That is how it is. And we all know that sometimes the people who matter the most to us are those we don't even see or talk to very often.


And finally it is important to remember that the best friend of all is Jesus. And one of these days, and not very long, we will all get to be together....with Him.....forever......if we have truly been His friend. Feel the love.
__________________________
I want to do what's right,
For already Heaven's in sight.
Come and go with me; I want you there
In that beautiful home so fair. mw