When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. – John 11:28-29
How wonderful to have Jesus’ friendship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus recorded in the gospels for us to reflect on today. The ingredients of lifelong friendship are present. They spend time together, with Jesus visiting the siblings’ home on multiple occasions. Jesus listened to his friends’ concerns and struggles and responded with teaching, mutuality, and deep care. The famously short verse, “Jesus wept” is contained here in the story of Jesus’ friendship with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Raising Lazarus from the dead was an act of sacrificial care, since it led to further alienation from the contemporary religious leaders.
What must it have been like to have an embodied friendship with God? To have a laugh or deep cry with Jesus? What is amazing in this story though isn’t just that these siblings were able to have a friendship with Jesus, but that Jesus responded in mutual delight and care towards his friends. In other words, God wants to be friends with us. Additionally, in love and friendship, God sent Jesus into the world to teach us and show us how to be friends.
Jesus modeled friendship for us showing us how to love others and be friends with one another. Visit one another, listen to each other, demonstrate your kindness in loving action towards each other – Jesus “spoke” his advice on friendship through his actions.
Thank you for reaching out to us in friendship through example and action in Jesus. We are thankful for friendships that provide glimpses of you and your love for all of us. AMEN
As part of our 12 Days of Christmas celebration, we are delighted to share with you a preorder bonus created in collaboration with and offered by our publisher, Herald Press. Just send us an email at some.comfortandjoy@gmail.com with your order number and the name of the retailer and you will receive an email in reply with a blessing, a recipe card, and a breath prayer/coloring page. (Your email address won’t be used or sold for any other purpose.)
Some Comfort and Joy was developed as a devotional resource that follows the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.
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