Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
First Page - Now launched! All the stories are true, or based on real events. Unlimited reading for $10.00 / month. No downloads. Read on your phone, tablet or computer.
La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.
The Beauty of Staying Together (Former Title: DETOUR
Calvina, the young battered wife of Duane, is in desperate need of a new start in life. Will her jealous husband, the mad man with whom she had been unequally yoked, prove too much to ever hope for a chance of staying together--a chance to fix her troubled marriage?
We encourage you to read the two main character profiles before reading the first chapter. We can be so wrong in the strong initial opinions we form of people, which we see in The Beauty Of Staying Together (originally published under the title: Detour), a story based on true events.
¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
View Content By Specific Category
Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.
Manna Minutes en español:
Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:
Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Commentary On Matthew 26:50: Jesus Calls Judas Friend
Among Jesus' twelve apostles was a man named Judas Iscariot. Judas is the apostle who betrayed Jesus into the hands of fierce enemies. Matthew 26:46-50 says, "Rise, let us be going. Behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he. Hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master, and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him".
Why would Jesus call the man who betrayed him, friend? Was not Judas an enemy? Now, we do know Christ would not have said, "friend", for no reason, because He taught us to be careful with words. In Matthew 5:37, He says, "Let your communication be yea, yea, nay, nay. For whatever is more than these cometh of evil."
So, He was not one to use extra, or, filler, words. Notice that Jesus does NOT say, "my friend". He simply said "friend". Let us not add the word "my" when it is not there. Indeed, Judas was a "friend"...a friend of the world, which made him an enemy of God. James 4:4 says, "Whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." Yes. Judas was the enemy of God in Christ.
Judas' free will choice to be a friend of the world also worked in God's plan for Christ to die for the sins of man.
The case of Judas is only one of many that shows we can have one status in the world, and an opposite status in God's eyes. For example, the eleventh chapter of Romans tells us the Jews are enemies of the gospel for the sake of the salvation of the Gentiles. However, it also says Jews are God's beloved for the sake of the fathers. Abraham for example. They are enemies, yet, they are beloved, depending on from which side you look at them. The same applies to Judas being a friend of the world...and an enemy of God.
And consider the passage of 1 Peter 4:14, which says, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified".
Two opposites are occurring: "evil spoken of" and "glorified". When people criticize and speak badly about the follower of Christ who is living in accordance with the Bible, the Lord is glorified in terms of the spiritual. But He is "evil spoken of" in the eyes of this natural world.
So, again, Judas was both a friend of the world, which also made him an enemy of God (James 4:4).
Copyright notice: This website and its content is copyright of © Heavenly Manna (HeavenlyManna.net) 2002-2025.
Comments/Comentarios:
Send Comments or a Private Message about One of Our Services / Envíe Comentarios o un Mensaje Privado acerca de nuestros servicios
Once comments reach 10, they close. IF YOU USE PROFANITY, WE WILL REJECT YOUR COMMENT AUTOMATICALLY.
We're a small team, please be patient as we review comments.
©2003 - 2013 Heavenly Manna Ministries
Images: courtesy of Free Digital Photos, openstockphotography.org, FreeFoto.com, Wikimedia Commons. Multiple crosses image - Wikimedia Commons - C.G.P Grey - Animation by Heavenly Manna