Read: Matthew 26:17-55
It is Maundy Thursday, the eve of the crucifixion, and Jesus is spending it in familiar company. First, he gathers in a home with his disciples to share the Last Supper. Eating together is already one of the most meaningful ways to experience community—but on this particular evening, Jesus takes it a step further. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus assumes the role of a servant and washes his disciples’ feet, one by one, rinse by rinse.
This display of humility also demonstrates an important truth: getting close to people, both physically and emotionally, comes with a risk. But it was a risk that Jesus was willing to take, right up to these final hours before his death. Jesus chose to be a friend, even knowing that some of those friends would deeply hurt him.
When we think about the violence of Jesus’s death and the torture he suffered leading up to it, we’re quick to place blame on the soldiers, the Roman authorities, or even the crowds who shouted, “Crucify him.” But alongside the physical pain of the cross, Jesus also experienced the emotional pain of betrayal from those closest to him.
With their feet still clean from Jesus’s washing, Judas walks to accompany the soldiers to arrest Jesus. Despite Jesus’s warning, Peter walks into situations that lead him to deny knowing his dear friend Jesus—not once, not twice, but three times. Even his other disciples, who walk with Jesus into the Garden of Gethsemane, can’t stay awake to pray with him as he asks.
Jesus is betrayed by a friend, denied by a friend, and abandoned by friends in his greatest hour of need. Not only that, but Scripture tells us that Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. A sign of intimacy, love, and friendship becomes a death sentence. And Jesus responds, “Do what you came for, friend” (Matthew 26:50).
For any of us who have been wounded by friends or family before, we understand that the sting of betrayal is most poignantly felt where there was first intimacy. It always hurts the most when it comes from someone who is—or was—close to us.
But the thing is, Jesus knew all of this. He knew who his betrayer was—he calls it out during the Last Supper. He knew Peter would deny him—he even warned him of it. He knew his disciples would fall asleep on the job. Yet he still chose friendship with them. He still washed their feet. He was still willing to get close to them, even knowing he would get hurt by them. He still went to the cross for them—and for us.
Because of that, we can now know a friendship and intimacy with the God of the universe that far surpasses any level of friendship or intimacy we could experience here on earth.
If we’re walking into this Easter carrying any sort of bitterness, resentment, or hurt, may we be comforted by the fact that Jesus understands. May we be willing to lay those burdens down at the foot of the cross. And most importantly, may we remember what a friend we have in Jesus.