A Biblical Look into New Moon: Turning to Jacob

Bella spends months like a zombie after Edward leaves her. Much of New Moon is dedicated to the pain of separation. But we have a ray of light in it - Jacob Black. Bella awakes from her emotional stupor and walks into a friendship with this Quilete teenager. Jacob's light-hearted spirit and free approach to life become infectious to Bella. Of course, no boy or girl can spend much time together without confronting the reality of romance. It doesn't take long for Bella to become wary of her own physical reactions to Jake. She hugs Jake out of concern, but his reaction is more than gratitude for her.

"We stood like that for a moment, and it didn't upset me; in fact, I felt comforted by the contact. This didn't feel anything like the last time someone had embraced me this way. This was friendship. And Jacob was very warm.

It was strange for me, being this close - emotionally rather than physically, though the physical was strange for me, too - to another human being. It wasn't my usual style. I didn't normally relate to people so easily, on such a basic level.

Not human beings.

'If this is how you're going to react, I'll freak out more often.' Jacob's voice was light, normal again, and his laughter rumbled against my ear. His fingers touched my hair, soft and tentative.


Well, it was friendship for me." Excerpt taken from New Moon, pgs. 178-79

The relationship between Bella and Jacob has been the basis for much discussion amongst the Twilight community. It seems that Bella continues to use Jacob for her own comfort without really considering his needs. Is that the current model of friendship for our world?

One of the best models for friendship can be found in I Samuel 20. The two friends are Jonathan and David. Jonathan is the son of the king and supposed heir to the throne. David is the musician for the king and anointed by God to be king. They should be against one another, but they are completely devoted to each other in friendship. It's the first "bro-mance" in the Bible.

Read the following passages. Write down in your Bible how Jonathan and David treated each other.

I Samuel 18:1-4

I Samuel 19:1-7

I Samuel 20:32-42 (Just for fun, check v. 24. What festival was being celebrated during this time?)

I Samuel 23:15-18

2 Samuel 1:11-12

2 Samuel 9:1-13

The friendship of Jonathan and David even went beyond the grave. After the tragic death of Jonathan, David continues to honor his friend by taking care of his son, Mephibosheth. Unfortunately, this kind of friendship is hard to find these days. Real friendship takes so much hard work and time. In a busy world, we struggle to build real relationships with other people. When we sacrifice our friendships for other things or people, we lose the opportunity to encourage and build up one another.

Pastor James MacDonald of Harvest Bible Chapel gives five phrases of real friendship, based on Jonathan and David. Reflect on your own friendships and evaluate which of these phrases deserve recommitment in your life.

1. I will be there for you in times of hardship.
2. I will help you depend on God and not me.
3. I will seek to be a source of emotional stability for you.
4. I will be self-effacing and unashamed in my loyalty to you.
5. I will verbalize my commitment to you.