“Friend, do what you came to do.” – Matthew 26:50

This statement amazes me. The disciples have been praying in the garden; Jesus knows what is about to take place. He knows that Judas is coming to betray Him. But right in the middle of His betrayal, Jesus calls him His friend. This is the only place in the Bible that Jesus refers to any of His disciples as His friend. Why did He call Judas, of all people, His friend? In our minds, Judas is the worst of the worst. He betrayed our Savior! How could He call him His friend?

I think if we’re honest with ourselves, we aren’t much different from Judas. If we really take a look at our hearts, we’re a lot like him. We don’t like to compare ourselves to him. We’d rather compare ourselves to Peter or John, but never Judas. Never the one who betrayed The Christ. But unlike Judas, we didn’t just betray Him once. No, we betray Him constantly. Every time we sin, we crucify Him anew.

Every. Time.

Just think about that for a minute. How many times have you sinned this month, this week, or even today? How many times have you kissed His cheek, then turned right around and crucify Him? I know I have many times. More times than I would like to admit. It hurts me to think about all the times I’ve broken His heart for something so petty.

But this verse gives me hope because even in the midst of our betrayal, we can still be His friend. We can still come back to Him and He calls us friend. No matter how dark our heart is, no matter how many times we turn away, we can still be called friend. He can still save us! Even when we betray Him a thousand times, we can come back. We can break His heart daily, but He loves us so much that He lets us come back. I’m so thankful that on that night He called Judas His friend. And now, He calls us friend.