THE FRIEND OF SINNERS

I am so glad that Jesus was and is guilty of what He was charged with in Mat.11:19.
He was accused of being "a friend of publicans and sinners." And so He is!

There are many who claim to be friends but where are they in time of need or in times of failure?

There were those who claimed to be Jesus' friend but instead were shown to be His enemy....."Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." (Psa.41:9)

A true friend, in contrast, will abide as a friend indeed, come what may!

As the proverbs relate..."A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Prov.17:17)

But who can find such a friend and brother in this earth? There is one, the man Christ Jesus. He is the one described in scripture as....."a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." (Prov.18:24)

This is He who will faithfully succour us and also will "wound" us when it is needed. (Prov.27:6)

This is also the one who demonstrated the greatest love by His willingness to lay down His life for those He called friends! (John 15:13,15)

Can there be any greater friend?

So-called friends may come and go, but thank God, there is a faithful friend, a friend of sinners, who will stick closer than a brother, and ever liveth to make intercession for such as I!