Luke, Lindsey and I had this conversation the other day about what it would be like to go back in time and be friends with Jesus.

So often, we see the Bible accounts of Jesus'  teachings and forget that Jesus lived among us as a human. 

I read the account of Jesus and His disciples eating with unclean hands and usually I just take notice of  the teaching moment He has with those who criticize them. What I so often gloss over in my mind is the humanity and camaraderie hinted at by this exchange.

Jesus and His disciples, when they sat down to eat on a regular basis, didn't go through an elaborate ceremony and talk only about the Kingdom of God and Jesus' mission on Earth. They sat down as friends, dispensing with formalities and likely talking about recent events or the cute little kid they had just seen in the street a few minutes before. 

Kids in the days of Jesus played with musical instruments and played sports. Dances were a common community activity. There were probably kids who played alongside God during their childhood and people who danced with Jesus on occasion.

He was a carpenter. There were people who had tables or chairs or shelves made by God incarnate. 

He didn't spend 24/7 healing people. God slept and ate and joked with His friends. 

Jesus used sarcasm.

John 10:31-32 says:

The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, 'I have shown you many good works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?

Most importantly of all of this, Jesus was a friend to His apostles, the most loving friend ever.

He always knew that Judas would betray Him, even before Judas became one of the twelve, and yet Jesus still befriended him, taught him, and even fed him with His flesh. 

If I knew when I met somebody that they would hand me over to death, I would avoid that person like the plague, but Jesus shows Judas infinite love, giving him the opportunity to love in return, even though He knew all the time how it would end. 

I'm praying for you!

:)