Judas. Even the name conjures up images and pre-determined opinions about this most notorious of the disciples that followed Jesus. He seen everything the other guys saw, heard the same teachings, yet he still died without a relationship with the Lord. We started this adventure looking at who he was, what his name meant and where he was from. We discovered that he suffered from being an outcast. We also discovered that in every list that names the disciples in the Scriptures, Judas is always named last and we know that this was not by accident. Rank was very important to these guys and it was illustrated time and time again. The placement of his name in the list speaks volumes about the gulf that separated Judas from Jesus and His followers. But let’s go further.

A casual study of the life of Judas reveals that he enjoyed the same benefits that were afforded to the other disciples. First, we know he was genuinely called by Jesus: Mark 3:13; 19, “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve….and Judas Iscariot.” Judas was clearly ‘chosen’ by God to be with Jesus. But that begs the question, “Why?” For the answer we have to go dig up some Old Testament prophecy: Psalm 41:9, “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” Psalm 55:12-14, “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.” Jesus makes it clear that when He chose Judas, He knew who he was and what he would do: John 6:70, “Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”" Everything Judas did, was part of the eternal plan of redemption planned, ordained and executed by God before the world began. Consider Acts 2:23, “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”

Now before you scratch your head and feel like you just got set back in your faith, please know that I can’t fully wrap my mind around this either. I’ve said from the beginning that this is a mystery to me. But I believe this is a beautiful picture of God’s divine sovereignty. Just as sure that I am of the fact that Jesus Christ was foreordained by the Father to suffer for sin, there is also no doubt in my mind that Judas was foreordained to be responsible for betraying our Savior. Now if that doesn’t mess you up quite enough, think about this: While Judas was born to fulfill the ancient prophecies related to the betrayal of Christ, he was not forced to do anything against his will. He was chosen by God to be the one to betray Christ; but Judas betrayed Jesus because he wanted to – he exercised his own free-will. Therefore, while Judas was chosen by God for the role he fulfilled in betraying Christ he fulfilled that role willingly. “Preacher, how can you say that for sure?” Because the Word of God doesn’t contradict Itself. 2Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” So this tells me that ALL have a chance to be saved – the Judas’, the Pharoahs, the Jeff Burkes and yes, even YOU. Could Judas have been saved? Absolutely! Remember, he had every opportunity to do that. The proof of this fact is found in the parables of the unjust servant, the man without a wedding garment, and the ten virgins – they were all designed to speak to Judas and turn him from his sin. That being said, let me ask you – do you know Jesus? I mean, really KNOW Him? Or are you just part of a group that hangs out with Jesus and meets once a week to talk about Jesus and sing about Jesus? Today, you can ask Him into your heart, receive His forgiveness for your sins and enter into a relationship with the Creator of the universe.