1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

During church yesterday, the preacher’s message was about love… loving ourselves and each other like the LORD loves us and instructs us to love, even our enemies. It is impossible for one to be a true Christian and to hate one’s brother or sister (1 John 2:3-111 John 2:3-11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴ He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. ⁶ He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. ⁷ Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. ⁸ Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. ⁹ He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. ¹⁰ He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. ¹¹ But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.  

WP-Bible plugin . We can’t hate another and claim we know GOD. We can hate the actions and attitudes of others, but the LORD our GOD calls us to love one another (I’m not talking about compromising one’s faith). GOD makes it rain on the just and the unjust. And while we were yet sinners, Christ Jesus, the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON of the LIVING GOD, died for us. That’s some serious love. We are but human, so love isn’t such a natural attribute across the board. We love our spouses, close friends, etc. But we may have a hard time embracing everyday human beings, like the loud neighbor next door; the co-worker on the job always “borrowing” things off your desk; the knucklehead wanna-be gang-bangers on your block; etc. Do we really love these people? Can you love a friend who has betrayed you?” It seems so very hard. But when I see how Jesus loved Judas Iscariot… again I am amazed at our great GOD.

Jesus the Christ practiced EXACTLY what HE preached and makes it possible for us to follow HIS example. HE told HIS disciples to love their enemies, to bless those who persecute us, curse us and use us abusively.

Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (See also Luke 6:37-42Luke 6:37-42
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: ³⁸ Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. ³⁹ And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? ⁴⁰ The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. that...: or, shall be perfected as his master ⁴¹ And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ⁴² Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.  

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Yes, Jesus practiced this unmerited love… but I’m not talking about HIM being born into the world or dying for the world. I’m talking about in HIS relationship with Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed HIM for 30 pieces of silver. Jesus loved Judas even though HE knew from the beginning he would betray HIM (John 6:60-70John 6:60-70
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? ⁶¹ When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? offend: or, scandalize, or, cause you to stumble ⁶² What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? ⁶³ It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. ⁶⁵ And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. ⁶⁶ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. ⁶⁷ Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? ⁶⁸ Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. ⁷⁰ Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?  

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The LORD even washed Judas’ feet the night of HIS betrayal. Would you be able to do such a humble act for one you knew was about to betray you to be beaten, whipped, spit on, mocked and nailed to a cross? Even though Jesus said it would have been better for HIS betrayer to have never been born (Mark 14:20-21Mark 14:20-21
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. ²¹ The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.  

WP-Bible plugin)… He treated Judas no differently from HIS other disciples.

John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

But our LORD and SAVIOR goes even further than that with HIS agape love.

Matthew 26:47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

Did you catch that? — The LORD Jesus Christ greeted the one who was betraying HIM as “friend.” Now, Christ Jesus never minced words, so when HE chose this particular noun with which to greet HIS betrayer, HE wasn’t being sarcastic, for HE could have chosen any other term.

The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon (Source)

Strong’s Number: 2083

Original Word Word Origin

eJtai’ro� from etes (a clansman)

Transliterated Word

Hetairos

Phonetic Spelling

het-ah’-ee-ros

Parts of Speech

Noun Masculine

Definition

1. a comrade, mate, partner

2. in kindly address

1. friend, (my good friend)

King James Word Usage – Total: 4 – friend 3, fellow 1

Take note, this particular use of the Greek term for “friend” is used only four times in the Holy Bible, and it is only in this instance that it is used personally (the other 3 times are used by Jesus in parables – Source)

At the moment of Judas’ kiss, those who would kill HIM knew exactly who HE was… so why did Jesus the Christ persist in being kind and loving to Judas even after the deal was done, as they say? To be honest, I don’t know why Jesus appeared to love Judas unto the end… perhaps it is because the LORD our GOD is PERFECT.

And are we not to also aim for perfection? Are we not also to take on the person of Christ Jesus and live a holy life as HE lived it (put off the old man)? Now, this is a hard thing — to love our enemies. But thank the LORD that it is HE who makes us perfect. If we tried to create such change in ourselves, we’d still be at it in hell. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, such love is a reality, for it is HE who creates this love in us (Galatians 5:16-26Galatians 5:16-26
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ye...: or, fulfil not ¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹ Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴ And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. affections: or, passions ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.  

WP-Bible plugin). But we must not fight against the Holy Spirit. For example, we must not insist and persist in holding grudges when we know full well we must forgive. The Holy Spirit shows us the Way, but is up to us to choose if we will walk in it.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 15:9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. … 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

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