Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. John 12:1-2 CSB

Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and He told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled.  He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.”  He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”  Then He came and found them sleeping.     Mark 14:32-37 CSB

Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.  John 19:25-27 CSB

We know that relationship matters to God. The restoration and redemption of relationships were set in motion before the world began (1 Peter 1:19-20). We see the reverberations of this truth throughout Scripture, from Adam (Genesis) to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation). But I don’t know if I ever realized how important friendships were to the Savior. As the day drew near, as I look at His last week, I see Him beginning it by hanging with close friends at Bethany, and then walking through it with His close followers, inviting three of them to pray more deeply with Him. Even as He hung on the cross, concern for His family and friends was on His mind, as His closest friend/follower (John) was there at the cross. 

What does this mean for us in our darkest hours, struggles, difficulties? We shouldn’t run from or hide from our closest relationships at these times…we should move toward, embrace, be with those whom we call friends. We need them in our difficulty. They need to see us in our struggles. There is encouragement, hope, help in those times. God shows up in those times (The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. Ps. 34:18) And He shows up in extraordinary ways when we are together for challenging and shaping purposes (For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them. Matt. 18:20).

If the God-man Himself needed/wanted friends nearby in His most difficult of times, we should/must open our lives and hearts up to the same.