What happens when people see Jesus for who he really is? As the old Christmas hymn says, they fall on their knees. 

It is not a point to build a theological argument on, but the way this text reads in the New International Version, it appears Judas and Jesus were the only ones left standing. The Roman soldiers and the officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees were on the ground. They heard the I Am and experienced its force and authority. 

Judas betrayed the man who called him Friend (Matthew 26:50). Jesus had washed his feet. On those two feet he now stood, a man with a bag full of money and an opportunity to make a name for himself. He stood out among the disciples as he always knew he did. He was the greatest, at least in his own mind. He controlled the flow of the funds. He controlled the situation at hand. Soon he would control even more. He would show Jesus what a Messiah ought to be and do.

Jesus stood there and showed Judas, and everyone else who pays attention, who the Messiah is and what he does for those he loves. He lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13). 

You are one of those friends. 

What a friend we have in Jesus!

It’s Sunday. Let’s go meet with our friends who know our Friend. Let’s take our friends who need to know our Friend. Let us become the kind of friend our Friend is.

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I will become the kind of friend each of us needs. 

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