Jesus Came to Mend a Shattered Friendship.

Adam and Eve were created naked, transparent to God, one another, and self. But, when they rejected God’s friendship, they became afraid of exposing their brokenness. So, they hid and covered themselves. This is our natural modus operandi. We wear masks to hide our insecurity, mistakes, sin, struggles, guilt, weakness, anger, low self-esteem, and abuse … to name but a few. 

When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God. God called to the Man: “Where are you?” [Hebrew word: a question of condition, not location] (Genesis 3:8-9) “God designed us to be connected and life breaks down when we are not.” (John Townsend) Adam shattered his friendship with God the result of which was a total fracture of life.

God wanted him back. In the restoration of a broken fellowship, someone must make the first move. LOVE came to rebuild friendship with those who had severed the bond. He made the first move!

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BETRAYED BY A FRIEND?

No one has seen God at any time; the unique Son,
who is in the intimate presence of the Father,
has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen.
He has explained Him and interpreted Him.
John 1:18

“In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen — really seen.” (The Power of Vulnerability) Through Jesus, God was inviting us to into-me-see. Jesus unveiled, uncovered, disclosed, and laid bare God’s heart of flaming desire to be friends with us once again. “Being disguised under the disfigurement of an ugly crucifixion, the Christ upon the cross is paradoxically the clearest revelation of who God is.” (Hans Urs von Balthasar)

The cross was the price God paid to mend a shattered friendship. “The grace of God does not play it safe and cannot be contained by the walls we build and the masks we wear. Grace moves beyond deserving, pushing the envelope of forgiveness and dispersing the shadows of shame and guilt.” (It is Finished) 

“Friends will ask for discount prices. True friends will pay the full price.” (Lisa Robinson) At the Cross, God paid the full price to restore friendship. To us who have betrayed him, he says: “I love you people with a love that will last forever. I BECAME YOUR FRIEND  because of my love and kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)