28 You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

Today’s passage speaks to me of real friendship. But this is a friendship that is like no other – a friendship that may only have been for a short time, but it led Jesus to declare that these people that he eats and drinks with will one day have a share in eternity with him.

The disciples had witnessed so much of what Jesus said and did. Sometimes they understood (though mostly they had not understood yet), and at this point they trust in Jesus and have stood by him in his trials (v 28). Jesus knows they will not stand by him when the ultimate test comes (as we will see tomorrow) – but that is because full understanding and faith will only come after his resurrection from the dead. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, they will stand by his message through every future trial, even up to their own deaths.

It reminds me of another passage in John 15:12-14: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

The same truths apply to us today. Do you think Jesus counts you as his friend? Do you long for a friendship with the living creator of the universe, who will one day welcome his friends to share in a meal at His table in the new creation? We who believe that Jesus died for us are counted his friends, because friendship with Jesus is freely available to all who trust in him and listen to what he has said to us. And his word to me today is: Though you may undergo many trials, stand by his gospel message, and love one another just as he has loved us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.