Twelve Apostles and Three Friends

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. (Luke 10:38 NKJV)

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (John 11:1 NKJV)

Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love (your friend) is sick.” (John 11:3 NKJV)

Now Jesus loved (wanted to bless) Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (John 11:5 NKJV)

True Friends are a True Blessing

Jonathan, the son of Saul, was probably David’s best friend before becoming King.  But after he was anointed King, we only read of one true friend of David and that was Hushai. We read, “So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15:37 NKJV).” King David had mighty men, he had counselors, but we only read of this one friend. This man Hushai proved his loyalty and friendship when King David was fleeing from his own son Absalom who was trying to usurp the throne.  That one friend was of immense worth and was a great help to King David.  I suspect that being King made it hard to trust the people who claimed to be friends, but King David could trust Hushai.  

Friends that cannot be Trusted

While Hushai was a true friend, David also had a friend in Ahithophel at one time.  Psalm 41:9, and John 13:18 make it clear that Ahithophel was a friend.  But since he was also the grandfather of Bathsheba (see 2 Samuel 11:3 and 2 Samuel 23:24), apparently he became David’s enemy after David defiled Bathsheba.  But he waited until he thought the time was right, and then betrayed David by giving counsel to Absalom during Absalom’s rebellion.  That must have hurt even though most of us would understand Ahithophel’s treachery after Bathsheba became pregnant by David,  and after he used a war to murder Bathsheba’s husband.  

Special Friends of the Lord

While all of the apostles were called friends of the Lord (See John 15:13-15, and Matthew 26:50), Bethany and those who lived there seemed to be special friends of the Lord.  This was where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived.  Their home seemed to be a home away from home for the Lord.  We read, “Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha (John 11:1 NKJV).”

It was here that Mary anointed the Lord.  It was here where Lazarus was raised from the dead.  The Lord often went to the Mount of Olives; and, since Bethany was on the Eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, it is most likely that he often went to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  In John 11, Lazarus is referred to as the Lord’s friend and Mary, Martha and Lazarus are ones that Jesus loved in the devotional sacrificial sense.  I don’t suppose one could have a true friend unless they were also loved in that devotional way. 

The Disciple that Jesus Loved

The apostle John in particular seemed to be a disciple that Jesus loved both as a friend and in a devotional sacrificial way.  The nice part is that John, who writes the Gospel of John and the three epistles that bear his name, knew that He was the disciple that Jesus loved.  He was loved as a friend (John 20:22) and in a devotional sacrificial way (John 13:23 and other references).  But I am particularly interested in the fact that John seemed to be an intimate friend as did Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  

Personal Application

I am glad that God loved the whole world, red, and yellow, black and white, as the children’s hymn says because that means that He loved me.  But while we all come under the umbrella of that devotional sacrificial love of John 3:16, only those who have appropriated the benefit of that love by faith, can enjoy the intimacy of the love of a friend in their relationship with the Lord.  The Lord is the friend of the believer, but are we who believe His friend?   Abraham was a friend of God.  I would like to be known as His friend as well.  

The Lord says, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you (John 15:14 NKJV).”  Then He goes on to say, “These things I command you, that you love [in a devotional sacrificial way] one another (John 15:17 NKJV).”  Satan wants us to unite with unbelievers and divide from believers.  But of course, we need to discern which is which and make it our goal to unite with believers.  

Are we truly the Lord’s friends?

Bruce Collins

Meditation for the week of May 18, 2025

If you would like further conversation about the issues in these meditations, contact me at collinsbd@yahoo.com and I will try to accommodate you with a virtual Bible Study.