Jesus And Judas

 Luke 22:47-48

"And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

We all know this written testimony of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, but I want to point out a few things that amazed me and has taken me years to understand and put into practice in my own life.

1) After praying all night to God, Jesus called and chose twelve men out of the many disciples who followed Him and appointed them to be apostles, one of the twelve was Judas Iscariot.

Luke 6:12-16

"Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor."

**Remember that the gospels were written at least twenty years after the resurrection and they did not know at the time that Judas would betray Jesus!**

Question: Why did Jesus choose Judas when He knew Judas would end up betraying Him?

John 6:70-71

"Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve."

Question: How was it possible for Judas to be with Jesus everyday for three and a half years and still be a devil?

What I learned from this is that it did not matter how holy, righteous, and loving Jesus was, because the heart of Judas was hardened, his mind was closed, and all that Jesus said and did had no effect on him.

I am amazed at the fact that we can be absolutely holy and full of the love of Jesus and there will be those who are the complete opposite of us, yet we are able to co-exist with one another and in some cases like Jesus and Judas, sleep under the same roof!

2) Jesus gave Judas power to cast out demons, raise the dead, heal the sick and to preach the gospel.

Matthew 10:1-4

"And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

This shows me that it's possible to be called, chosen, and given gifts by God but still end up falling away or being cast into outer darkness as an unprofitable servant in the end.

3) Jesus loved Judas with a love that surpasses human understanding.

John 13:1-5

"Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded."

What an amazing love! Jesus washed the feet of His own betrayer, knowing beforehand exactly what Judas would do!

Jesus left us the perfect example to follow, He showed us how to love our enemies, and to serve those who hate us.

1st Peter 2:21

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:"

In Jesus,
Tyrone