I Was Wounded

I was Wounded in the House of my Friends

“What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” (Zechariah 13:6).

This is an amazingly profound statement. We know He was “wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities” but sometimes we forget that it happened in the house of our Lord’s friends. The place where He should have been safe, protected and comforted was where He was bruised and killed. Jerusalem should have sheltered Him but became the place of His humiliation. The leaders of Israel, who should have welcomed Him as their Messiah, conspired to have Him killed. His disciples, who had walked with Him for three years, denied, forsook and even sold Him.

There can be no deeper hurt and insult than when one is betrayed and wounded by the very ones who profess to be your friends. It is hard enough when one is attacked by the enemy and the world but when the arrows and rocks come from those to whom you have bared your soul and who have claimed to be on your side, the hurt becomes magnified ten times. I am sure you may have experienced this? Can you image what it must have been like for Jesus to face the mob in Gethsemane with Judas in the lead? Judas said: “Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?”” (Mat 26:49, 50). He was a “friend” and he kissed Jesus (the Greek says he kissed Him fervently!). The greeting literally means “rejoice” or “be happy”. If it were not for the presence of the armed guard, one could have thought these were simply two old friends having a warm reunion in the garden, but no, Judas had betrayed Jesus and sold Him for 30 pieces of silver. I am sure that none of the 39 stripes stung as much as the kiss of Judas. None of the insults hurled at Him by the soldiers or the mockery of the crowd could approach the depth of the insult of his “friend” saying “rejoice, my teacher!”

There is no way one can rationalize or explain why betrayal hurts so much, but it does and Jesus knew exactly how it felt. As He stood before Pilate, the very people He had helped, healed, fed and encouraged cried “crucify Him”. How could those He blessed become His enemies and how could Judas sell Him out? I don’t know. Many books have been written on the subject but the answer remains elusive. How can a mother strangle her newborn baby or throw it alive into a dumpster? How can a mother kill the fetus in her womb when she should be the very person he can trust to keep him safe and nurtured? And how can a friend turn against his companion? There just is no explanation except that these are examples of the incredible depravity of the human heart. Thus our savior fell prey to the most depraved of all human actions – betrayal by a friend. It is no wonder that Paul refers to the last supper as having taken place “on the same night he was betrayed” (1Cor 11:23). The fact that His betrayer sat at table with Jesus seems to overshadow even the agony of the cross. What should have been a warm and intimate moment between friends is turned into a cold and hostile event by the jingle of the coins in Judas’ purse.

Off course, this was in the Father’s plan so that Jesus can come alongside you and me when we are betrayed by friends. He knows what it feels like. He knows the feeling of the rug being pulled out from under you and for all support to fall away. He is all too acquainted with that gut-wrenching feeling as you realize that the very ones who should have stood up for you, have turned against you. What a comfort to know that our Friend has been in precisely the same position and knows exactly how it feels. “…in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest” (Heb 2:17).

Not only is He touched by our feelings of betrayal but He is that Friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov 18:24). He is the One who said “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb 13:5). What a joy to know that there is one who is absolutely dependable, who will never betray us and who will never turn against us and will never forsake us. One who indeed sticks closer than even a blood-brother. He is the One we can trust to always be there no matter how hard the struggle. No matter how unfaithful we are, he remains faithful. Yes, human friends tend to run when it is no longer convenient to be associated with us or when persecution comes but in the midst of the most intense struggle, He remains faithful by our side. Sometimes friends forsake us because we did something to upset them, but no matter how many times we slip and fall, He will never turn against us. So with boldness we can cry with Paul: “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38, 39). Not only will He not betray us or even forsake us, He will defend, protect and care for us.

“Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling… The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.”

(Psalm 42:2, 3, 6, 7)

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

In closing let me challenge you to become a true friend to someone who needs a friend. That someone may be the least popular person you know – the popular ones already have many friends.

Anton Bosch

anton@ifcb.net

3310 W Magnolia Blvd

Burbank, CA, 91505

Tel 818 846 5520