“We are going to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.”
Matthew 20:18-19
The dirt road to Jerusalem was bustling. Jesus and His disciples had to step into a ditch while a camel caravan shuffled past. A group of boys herded their goats. Women chattered and carried baskets of figs and olives.
Jesus and the disciples continued their trek up the road, yet no one noticed the Lord’s strange, heavy tread. Finally, when they rounded the top of the hill and caught sight of the gleaming temple of Jerusalem, Jesus stopped. Peter, John, and the rest strolled a few yards ahead. Then they turned around. Something was wrong.
Jesus began to pour out His heart, telling them exactly what was about to happen to Him when He passed through the city gates. The disciples wondered what in the world He was talking about. But that’s not all. They not only ignored the Lord’s troubled words, they began arguing and jockeying for positions in the coming kingdom–two of them even dragged their mother into the dispute.
Perhaps the Lord had hoped to lean on His friends at such at time. Instead, He found a bunch of squabbling men who only half listened. He found no friendly words, no sympathetic ears.
Think of all the things friends share–heart-to-heart talks, the sacrifice of time, joys and sorrows. Jesus covers His side of friendship, but what about our side? What sort of friend does He have in you?
O Lord, it’s easy for me to criticize the behavior of the disciples, but I am no better. Forgive me when I fail You, but thank You for being such a faithful friend to me.
