The Truth Is

Reading: Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14 29 Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.” 30 Jesus replied, “The truth is, Peter, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 31 “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same. (Mark 14:29-31 NLT) When we think of how Jesus’ disciples deserted him in his hour of crisis, Peter is the one who gets criticized most for his boastful assertion of loyalty. The truth is, all the others said the same thing! And all of them deserted Jesus as Peter did. The truth is, Jesus knew that these guys, his closest friends, would variously betray him (Judas), deny him (Peter), or desert him (Everyone else) in his darkest hour. The truth is, he loved them anyway! He called them his friends. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. (John 15:15 NLT) The truth is, there is risk in loving others! There is risk in opening your heart and your life to others in friendship. Jesus took the risk of friendship and experienced betrayal, denial, and desertion by his friends. Yet, knowing in advance the risk he was taking, he loved them, took the risk, and let them in. And he continued to love them, even when they let him down! The truth is, we too must love deeply, take the risk, and let others in! The occasional pain caused by a failed friend is far outweighed by the warmth and richness friendship brings into your life. I know it doesn’t seem like it at the time, but when the pain comes, when betrayal, denial, or desertion comes, it’s still worth it! So get through it and get on with life. Don’t stop loving and trusting. And don’t stop opening your heart and life to friends; old friends, new friends, and yet-to-be friends! Prayer: Father, I thank you for my friends. Thanks for my friends now and for my friends through the years who have moved on and moved out of my life. I feel as if I should be able to thank you for the pain I’ve experienced when friends have hurt me or let me down. Please help me with that! But at least I can say that the benefits of friendships have been worth the pain. And I suspect that some of my friends are better friends to me than I am to them. Thanks. Amen.