It Had To Be A Friend

So many times, pieces of Scripture allude me. Whether I am slow in understanding or in too much of a hurry to comprehend is unknown, probably both at times. But every now and then, something hits me and settles in. I believe this is of the Spirit. That in itself is a great comfort. But one of those pieces of Scripture is this. It had to be a friend. Here is what I mean.

In John 13:18, after Jesus had washed His disciples feet and told them that He had given them an example to follow and encouraging them to follow His example he says:

"I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'"

Jesus Christ is referencing Psalm 41:9 as the prophecy:

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

It had to be a friend. The Jewish leaders wanted so badly to get rid of Jesus, but they could not. Not until Jesus was ready, that is. And not until the Scripture was fulfilled, not until God's Word was fulfilled.

Had the Jews been successful in their attempts to capture Christ or trap Him in His teachings and bring Him to trial on their time, the Scripture would not have been fulfilled. Jesus had to be betrayed and it had to be a friend. This was to fulfill the Scriptures and it was to work out according to God's plan from before the foundations of the world.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.


1 Corinthians 15:3-4