At the recent funeral of the Rev Jesse Louis Jackson, former president Bill Clinton (who along with two other presidents were among the thousands who were in attendance to pay their respects to one of the most impactful leaders of our time) told a story that touched my heart. President Clinton said that on one of the darkest, dismal and most difficult days of his presidency, Reverend Jackson called. To his surprise, Clinton said that Reverend Jackson then asked to speak to his daughter. The purpose of the call was not to encourage him. The purpose of the call was to encourage his daughter. Then, with a gentle crack in his voice, Clinton remarked that "Jesse did that because he was my friend."

Hearing that story was a reminder that even Presidents need friends. No matter how successful, smart, or spiritual you are, you need friends. Regardless of your job title, credit score, or the square footage of your residence, you need friends. All of us will arrive or have arrived at the point when you will need to hear the reassuring tones of a familiar voice, listen to the hard-earned wisdom of a trusted ally, and lean on the strength of a proven shoulder.

Hearing that story was also a reminder of how friends behave. Friends not only call during the good times, but also during the bad times. Friends not only show up for the celebrations, but also for the crises. Friends are not just on the stage when you win, but are backstage and offstage when you lose.

In his book The Four Loves, CS Lewis observed that “friendship is the least natural of loves; the least instinctive, organic, biological, gregarious, and necessary. It has the least commerce with our nerves; there is nothing throaty about it; nothing that quickens the pulse or turns you red and pale.” Friendship, he argues, is based on shared interests. It has to be about something—which is why people who complain about not having friends never have any. The condition of having friends, he says, “is that we should want something else beside friends.” To be friends means to be interested in the same subjects, motivated by the same ideals and to be moving toward the same future.

A fake friend is someone who doesn’t share your interests, isn’t motivated by your ideals, and isn’t headed in your direction--although they pretend as though they are. Fake friends raise your blood pressure. Fake friends break your heart. Fake friends obliterate trust. Fake friends poison relationships. Fake friends destroy peace. Fake friends arrest ambition. Fake friends will make you discount and distrust and despise true friends. Fake friends get you killed.

Judas was a fake friend. He was one of Jesus’ disciples, but betrayed him to his enemies for a mere thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:47-50 provides us with a transcript of the last conversation that transpired between Jesus and Judas. Here it is:

And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

Judas was a fake friend to Jesus. He sold him out. Then kissed him!

But Jesus was a true friend to Judas. Despite his treachery, Jesus still called him “friend.” Despite his disloyalty, Jesus still called him friend. Despite his two-facedness, Jesus still called him friend. The old saints were right when they sang:

Theres' not a friend like the lowly Jesus.

No, not one! No not one!

Here’s today’s question: What kind of friend are you?

Fake Friends