Some Thoughts on Christ and Friendship

I am a facebooker, maybe even a slightly addicted facebooker. My friend list is growing larger. There are a few individuals that I shower with comments, compliments and encouragement. Others perhaps I neglect a little more. Humanly speaking, perhaps this is understandable. Do these friends feel like I am a real friend to them? If Christ were on the Earth today, performing His earthly ministry, would He be on facebook?

It seems like a ridiculous question. Somehow, I can't imagine that He would do so exclusively. It certainly couldn't replace the impact of the face-to-face encounters we know He had from reading the Gospels. Would He take advantage of modern technology in a supportive way? Perhaps, He would.

But as I ponder His life and my friendships, I think of the many throngs of people Jesus impacted in His earthly ministry. He had twelve specially-chosen disciples, three very close friends we call His "inner circle," and yet the many crowds of people who gathered to hear Him preach, teach and receive healing. No wonder He had to pull away, refuel and be by Himself from time to time! Although He was and is fully God and had the power to perform miracles and healings, in His human body, He took on some of our human limitations. This human body of His was not present everywhere He might minister but instead was in one place at a time. We do know, however; from John 1 that Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree from afar off. How cool is that?

I can not be like Him in that respect, and I certainly feel my human limitations. But as a believer, I am His ambassador and should be like Him in my friendships. Jesus maintained His close friendships with James, John and Peter, but He ministered to large groups, some of whom would be watching Him from a distance. He still took the time, even in these settings, to give individuals special attention, such as Zaccheus, the tax collector, who climbed a sycamore tree to see Him over the crowd or the little children that, in King James English, He "suffered to come unto" Him. In some cases, Scriptures tell us that these encounters had life-changing impacts on those He met.

I'm glad too that Jesus did become acquainted with our humanness. I know that I serve a Lord who is not unable to relate to me.

I hope that I can be a blessing to friends whether they are acquaintances or my dear old friends for years. I hope that I don't waste my moments, even my chance encounters with those I meet, because, maybe after all, they are not such chance meetings.