How Did Jesus Know Judas Would Betray Him

Did Jesus Know That Judas Would Actually Betray Him? by Don Stewart

Is it true that God knows everything? – Question 34 The assertion of open theism is that God has no way of knowing what is going to happen in the next few seconds. To put it another way, the future is wide open. As a result, he, along with the rest of us, will have to wait and watch what happens next. It is difficult to accept this point of view since there are several prophesies in the Bible in which God makes definite predictions about what will happen in the future. One of the most well-known cases is Jesus’ prediction that He will be betrayed by Judas Iscariot, which was fulfilled on the cross.

Did Jesus Know He Would Be Betrayed and by Whom?

Some believe that Jesus was unaware that Judas would truly betray Him, or at the very least, that He was not convinced that this would occur. Indeed, when Judas arrived at Gethsemane, Jesus greeted him by calling him “Friend,” indicating that he was a close friend of Jesus. According to others, this implies that He did not anticipate Judas’s betrayal. In fact, when Jesus presented bread to Judas after dipping his finger into the same dish, it was seen as another another expression of camaraderie between the two.

Conclusions We Can Make from the New Testament

In the tale of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, the New Testament provides a number of details that are not in dispute. We can make the following observations about the situation.

1. Judas Had Met with the Chief Priests about Betraying Jesus

To begin, we learn from the Bible that Judas was the one who convened a conference with the chief priests in order to discuss betraying Jesus. The following is how Matthew describes what happened. “What will you offer me if I betray him to you?” said one of the twelve, who went to the top priests and asked. “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They gave him thirty pieces of silver in exchange for his services. (Matthew 26:14-15, New Revised Standard Version) As a result, Judas was the one to make the initial move.

2. Satan Entered Judas When He Went to the Chief Priests

In addition, the New Testament claims that Satan entered Judas Iscariot at the time of his crime. The following passage is included in Luke’s gospel. The devil then entered Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, and possessed him. To discuss how he may betray Jesus with the chief priests and temple guards, Judas went to the chief priests and temple guards. (See Luke 22:3-4 for more information.) The Word of God) The assumption that Judas delivered Jesus up to the religious leaders had no ulterior motives is dispelled by this.

His motivation was plain and simple greed.

3. Jesus Predicted His Betrayal by One of His Own Disciples

We also learn that Jesus was forewarned that this would occur. The fact that He would be betrayed was made very obvious. Furthermore, not only did Jesus state that he would be betrayed, but he also stated that the betrayal would be carried out by one of His own followers. The betrayer was thus going to come from among His own circle of friends and associates. In his letter, John writes, Jesus was extremely concerned as a result of saying this. “I can assure you of this: one of you is going to betray me!” he exclaimed emphatically.

Jesus went one step farther.

This is what Jesus says, according to Mark.

(Mark 14:20 New International Version) The person chosen would not only be one of the Twelve, but he or she would also have shared in the meal with Him.

In no way does the fact that Jesus gladly ate from the same plate as Judas indicate a relationship between them. Instead, it demonstrates the heinousness of the treachery.

4. Judas Iscariot Was Specifically Mentioned as the Betraying Disciple

Jesus took things a step further. He made it clear that Judas Iscariot would be the disciple who would betray Him in this manner. As a matter of fact, during the Last Supper, Jesus informed His followers that one of them would betray Him that very evening. When Judas inquired as to whether or not he would be the betrayer, Jesus responded affirmatively, stating that he would definitely be the betrayer. Matthew takes notes on the most important points of the discourse. And Judas, His betrayer, responded by saying, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” “You’ve stated it yourself,” he informed him.

5. Jesus Knew from the Beginning That This Would Happen

The Bible also emphasizes that Jesus was aware from the beginning of His mission that one of the disciples whom He had selected would betray Him and turn on Him. “Yet there are those of you who do not believe,” Jesus says, according to the gospel of John. Because Jesus knew from the beginning which of them did not believe and which of them would betray him. (John 6:64 New International Version) This demonstrates that He was aware of Judas’ betrayal for around three years prior to the event.

6. Jesus Was Betrayed by Judas

Judas did really betray Jesus, just as had been promised. The following is how Matthew describes what happened. While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared out of nowhere and entered the room. A vast mob of top priests and elders of the community, armed with swords and clubs, had gathered to accompany him. A sign from his betrayer was sent to them: “The One I kiss, He’s the One; capture Him!” So he walked right up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” before kissing Him on the lips.

Then they rushed up to Jesus, snatched Him from beneath his feet, and arrested Him.
That Jesus addressed him as buddy does not imply that Jesus was completely unconscious of what was going to take happening in front of his eyes.
“Rise, let us get moving!
Jesus was well aware of the reason for Judas’s visit.
At the end of the day, Judas did not reap the benefits of his terrible conduct.
Judas was given a suitable send-off by Jesus.

However, woe betide the one who betrays the Son of Man! “It would have been better for him if he had not been born,” says the author. In fact, it would have been preferable if Judas Iscariot had never been born, according to the New International Version of the Bible.

Conclusion: Jesus Knew What Would Occur in the Future

Given the foregoing facts, any objective examination of the evidence reveals that Jesus was aware of His impending betrayal, precisely predicted who the perpetrator would be, and pronounced judgment on His vile betrayer and betrayer’s accomplice. As a result, the different reasons offered by proponents of open theism for Jesus’ betrayal do not accord with the evidence. To assert that Jesus did not foresee His betrayal ahead of time is to deny what the New Testament plainly states about the subject of prediction.

Summary – Question 34Did Jesus Know That Judas Would Actually Betray Him?

According to the Bible, Jesus Christ clearly foretold that He would be betrayed by one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, before to His death. Some open theists make an attempt to explain away the fact that Jesus foretold Judas’ betrayal of Him in the Gospel of Matthew. Because they believe that no one, including God, can anticipate what would happen in the future, they believe that Jesus could not have foretold His betrayal by Judas. Their counter-explanations, on the other hand, are completely incompatible with the information provided by the New Testament.

Beginning with one of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot, approaching the religious authorities with the notion of betraying Jesus Christ, the story unfolds.
According to the story, as Judas approached these leaders, Satan entered him and possessed him.
He did it for the money, and he was guided by the devil himself throughout the process.
Furthermore, Jesus predicted that one of His followers, Judas Iscariot, would be the one to betray Him.
In other words, this did not come as a surprise to Him since He had anticipated it would occur three years prior to it actually occurring.
As soon as Judas put the question to Jesus, he responded in the affirmative.
According to Jesus’ instructions, Judas went to the religious leaders and brought them to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
As a result, each of the precise things that Jesus said would happen in the context of His betrayal was practically realized.

This is just another sign that God is not blind to the events of the future. Jesus, God the Son, was aware of the circumstances surrounding His betrayal from the beginning. The argument offered by open theism does not accord with the scriptural evidence.

Q: If God knows everything, and Jesus is God, why did He choose Judas as one of His disciples if He knew he would betray Him?

As a matter of fact, it was exactly because Jesus anticipated Judas’ betrayal that He picked him as a disciple. The death of Jesus on the cross for our sins was required in order for us to be saved, and Judas’ betrayal would be the catalyst for that outcome. Because of Jesus’ widespread popularity, the authorities realized that seizing Him when a large number of people were there, people who may come to His help, would be devastating. When and where He would be relatively alone was critical knowledge for them, and Judas was the only one who could provide them with this intimate information.

Indeed, it is for this reason that the day on which it occurred is referred to as “Good Friday.” Though it appeared as though Jesus’ ministry had come to a halt when the world turned against Him despite His life-giving teaching and healing, it really occurred exactly on schedule according to a plan that had been in place before the beginning of time.

Jesus was completely unsurprised by Judas’ betrayal.
His character was a sham, to say the least.
Furthermore, he took no precautions to keep his heart safe, allowing Satan to “enter him” whenever he pleased (John 13:27).
He took advantage of Judas’s nature in order to acquire what he believed would be a significant financial gain, the death of the Son of God, but he fell into a trap.
In a nutshell, the devil’s strategy of using Judas flopped.
Also obvious from several New Testament verses is that the specifics of his betrayal were foreseen hundreds of years in advance.
That was exactly the sum of money offered to Judas by Christ’s enemies in exchange for his participation, and that same sum of money was used to purchase a burial plot for Judas in a potter’s field when he committed himself out of regret for his heinous conduct.
Absolutely, and this has been true for a long time.

As a result, by choosing him as a disciple, He assisted in the planning of His own death – for our benefit. Customer assistance may be reached at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding the Bible that you would want us to answer.

Jesus predicts his betrayal – Wikipedia

It is recorded in the New Testament that Jesus foretells his betrayal three times, and the story is told in all four of the canonical Gospels. This prediction occurs during the Last Supper, as recorded inMatthew 26:24–25, Mark 14:18–21, Luke 22:21–23, and John 13:21–30, among other places. Jesus informs his followers in John 6:70 that one of them is “a demon,” implying that he is among them. It is confirmed in the following verse that Jesus is referring to Judas Iscariot by the author.

Biblical narrative

When Jesus predicts Judas Iscariot’s betrayal in the Gospel of John, he is preceded by the allegation in 13:17–18 that he foresaw that Judas would betray him: “If you are aware of these things, you will be blessed if you put them into practice. I’m not speaking of you all; I know who I’ve chosen; but I’m speaking of you all so that the scripture can be fulfilled: He who eats my bread raised his heel against me, so that the prophecy might be fulfilled.” As a result, the benediction in John 13:17 is not addressed towards Judas Iscariot.

In popular culture

It is the precise time following Jesus’ meal prediction that is shown in Italian Renaissance artistLeonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. According to art historian Helen Gardner, this work of art is the most widely reproduced religious picture in the history of the world.

Notes

When Jesus chose his twelve closest followers from among the thousands who followed him, he intended for them to participate and carry on his mission with him. He took the creation of this group of twelve apostles extremely seriously, praying for it for a full night before it took place. However, at a certain point, Jesus noticed that one of the twelve disciples, Judas, had shifted his perspective. According to the gospels, Jesus recognized that Judas was growing increasingly away from him, and even realized that he was about to “give him over.” According to John’s gospel, Jesus was aware of what was going on in Galilee long before the events in Jerusalem that would lead to his death on the cross occurred (John 6:70-71).

What was he thinking by keeping him so close to him to the end?
“Did I not chose you, the Twelve?” says the Master.
God picked Abraham, and then he chose Israel to be the chosen people for the rest of time.
The fact that God has chosen to love Abraham and his descendants for all time is what makes the covenant unbreakable.
Jesus could not expel Judas because he had chosen the twelve in the same manner that God had chosen his people, and he could not do so even when he learned that he was about to betray him.
A God hurt and humiliated by the betrayals of his people, but who never ceased loving them with an eternity-long love, was represented by the prophets, in especially Hosea and Jeremiah, who spoke in their names.
By prostrating himself in front of his students and washing their feet, Jesus elevated himself to the status of servant to everyone, even Judas.
If Jesus wished to be true to his Father – to the God who selected Abraham and Israel, to the God of the prophets – he had no choice but to keep Judas near to him until the end of the world.
A ray of sunshine breaks through the gloom (John 1:5).

In the midst of the most difficult night of wrath and hatred, Jesus displayed the incredible light of God’s love.

Why are the gospels so discreet concerning Judas’ motives?

It is incredible that the first Christians did not remain silent about the fact that one of the twelve apostles had turned Jesus up to the hostile authorities during his ministry. Given this circumstance, it is reasonable to question the character of Jesus himself: did Jesus make an error in selecting one of his closest companions? However, it is as amazing that the gospels include absolutely no information concerning Judas’ motivations. Was he dissatisfied when he understood that Jesus was not a Messiah with a political liberation agenda in mind for the world?

Some believe he was motivated by the promise of a reward, while others believe he acted out of love, assisting Jesus in his decision to offer his life.
The mention of the devil is one of them.
However, this simply adds to the intrigue.
Jesus could sense the resentment that had been bred in Judas’ heart and that had been entrenched to the point of being unrecoverably entrenched.
It is also possible to determine this by referring to the Holy Scriptures.
When the gospels make this reference to the Scriptures, it is critical that we comprehend what they are saying accurately.
Those who have thoroughly studied the Bible are well aware of the extent to which it provides options and places everyone ahead of their societal obligations.
While there is a dramatic element to the betrayal, God is also at work in the story.
God is bringing about the fulfillment of his promises (Isaiah 55:10-11).
When it comes to Judas’ bitterness and animosity, there is nothing more unfathomable than Jesus’ love for him “until the very end.” They are so circumspect about Judas’ motivations because they do not wish to satisfy our curiosity, but rather to persuade us to trust in Jesus Christ.

The gulf of darkness of the drama of Judas’ betrayal is not illuminated; rather, the depths of God’s love are revealed in an unfathomable and inexplicable way.

Why Jesus Was Betrayed by Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot sealed his own fate from the minute he planted a kiss on Jesus of Nazareth in the Garden of Gethsemane: he would go down in history as the world’s most renowned traitor. The identification of Jesus by the Jewish authorities, on the other hand, set in motion a series of events that would become the cornerstones of the Christian faith: Jesus’s arrest and trial, his crucifixion, and ultimately his resurrection, all of which are collectively known as the Passion of Christ. WATCH: JESUS: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Vault In light of how little we truly know about Judas Iscariot from the Bible, he continues to be one of the most enigmatic–and important–figures in Jesus’s life narrative to this day.

Who Was Judas Iscariot? What We Know from the Bible

Despite the fact that the Bible provides few details about Judas’s upbringing, he is listed as one of Jesus’ closest disciples, or apostles, in all four of the New Testament’s canonical gospels. Intriguingly, Judas Iscariot is the only one of the apostles whom the Bible (potentially) identifies by his town of origin. Some scholars believe that his surname “Iscariot” is derived from the town of Queriot (also known as Kerioth), which is located south of Jerusalem in the Judean Hills. “One of the things that might set Judas apart from the rest of Jesus’s disciples is that Judas is not from Galilee,” says Robert Cargill, assistant professor of classics and religious studies at the University of Iowa and editor ofBiblical Archaeology Review.

Butsurname might be evidence that he’s from the southern part of the country, meaning he may be a little bit of an outsider.” READ MORE: Explore 10 Biblical Sites: Photos Alternatively, others have suggested that the name Iscariot identified Judas with the Sicarii, or “dagger-men,” a group of Jewish rebels who opposed the Roman occupation and committed acts of terrorism circa A.D.

But there’s nothing in the Bible to link Judas to the Sicarii, and they were known to be active only after his death.
“These are attempts to see if there may have been something up front that set Judas apart from the rest.
Why would Judas have betrayed Jesus?” READ MORE:What Did Jesus Look Like?
Judas is seen seated at the opposite side of the table.

Possible Motives for Judas Iscariot’s Betrayal

According to the Gospel of John, Jesus revealed to his followers over the Last Supper that one of them would betray him if they didn’t repent of their actions. In response to their question, Jesus responded, “It is the person to whom I offer this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.” Later, Judas, who was recognized as the “son of Simon Iscariot,” was given a piece of bread that had been dipped in a dish by the apostle. “Satan came into Judas when he received the piece of bread,” the Bible says.

The Gospel of Luke, like the Gospel of John, attributed Judas’ treachery to Satan’s influence rather than simple avarice, as was the case in the Gospel of John.

In the words of Cargill, “there have always been some who have sought to attach Judas’s treachery to the fact that he had a love of money.” Others have speculated that his disloyal behavior was motivated by a greater political purpose.

Alternately, according to Cargill, Judas (along with Jewish authorities at the time) might have perceived a rebellion as potentially dangerous for the Jewish people in general, similar to what happened when Rome destroyed Sepphoris earlier in the first century: “Maybe he decided to hand Jesus over, in effect, to put a stop to a larger rebellion.” More information may be found at: Why Did Pontius Pilate Order Jesus’ Execution?

What Happened After That

No matter what his motivations were, Judas led troops to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he recognized Jesus as the Messiah by kissing him and addressing him as “Rabbi.” (Matthew 14:44–46) As recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, Judas instantly repented of his conduct and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the church’s treasurer, declaring, “I have sinned by betraying the blood of innocent men and women.” When the authorities dismissed Judas, he left the money on the floor and committed himself by hanging himself from the ceiling fan (Matthew 27:3-8).

The Bible contains several different versions of Judas’s death.
The Book of Acts, on the other hand, portrays his death as more akin to a spontaneous combustion than anything else.
As a result, he proceeded into a field, where he “fell headlong into the center of it and burst asunder, with all his guts gushing out” as a result of “falling headlong into it” (Acts 1:18).
Because of Judas’ treachery, Jesus was arrested, tried, and executed by crucifixion, following which he was raised from the dead.
However, the name “Judas” came to be associated with betrayal in a variety of languages, and Judas Iscariot would come to be depicted as the prototypical traitor and false friend in Western art and literature as a result.
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PAGE: Mary Magdalene: Prostitute, Wife, or None of the Above?

Was Judas Really That Bad?

According to Joan Acocellawrote in The New Yorker in 2006, “the most essential aspect about Judas, aside from his betrayal of Jesus, is his association with anti-Semitism.” Judas has been held up as a symbol of Jews by Christians almost since Christ’s crucifixion, representing what they believe to be the Jewish people’s deviousness and thirst for money, among other ethnic vices.” Due to the historical inclination to associate Judas with anti-Semitic stereotypes, following the horrors of the Holocaust, this significant Biblical figure has been given a second look, and his image has even been somewhat restored in some quarters of the world.

When writing about Judas in 1997, Canadian biblical historian Professor William Klassen asserted that many elements of his betrayal had been fabricated or embellished by early Christian church leaders, particularly as the Church began to drift away from Judaism.

What Is the Gospel of Judas?

It was revealed in 2006 by the National Geographic Society that a long-lost document known as the “Gospel of Judas” had been discovered and translated. The text is thought to have been composed about A.D. 150 and subsequently transcribed from Greek into Coptic in the third century, according to historians. The Gospel of Judas was first mentioned in writing by the second-century cleric Irenaeus, and it is one of a number of ancient texts that have been discovered in recent decades that have been linked to the Gnostics, a (mostly Christian) group who were denounced as heretics by early church leaders for their unorthodox spiritual beliefs.

According to this version of the story, Jesus begged Judas to betray him to the authorities so that he may be released from his physical body and fulfill his mission of redeeming people on earth.

Getty Images/Universal History Archive/Universal Image Group Despite the fact that it is a well-known piece of literature, the Gospel of Judas is surrounded by controversy, with some scholars claiming that the National Geographic Society’s version is a faulty translation of a Coptic text and that the public was misled into believing it depicted a “noble Judas.” According to whatever interpretation you choose, given that the Gospel of Judas was written at least a century after both Jesus and Judas died, it offers little in the way of historically reliable information about their lives, and certainly does not provide the missing link to understanding Judas Iscariot”s true motivations.

Christ Knew Judas Would Betray Him

Isaiah 50:4-9 / Psalm 69:8-10,21-22,31,33-34 / Matthew 26:14-25 / Isaiah 50:4-9,21-22,31,33-34 The first reading from the book of Isaiah was given today, and it foreshadowed in remarkable detail the treatment Jesus would suffer from the Jewish people during his trial and crucifixion. The Lord had had extensive training in the scriptures and was an accomplished public speaker. However, in the gospel readings from Sunday, as well as today, Jesus permitted his accusers to respond to their own question, as recorded in the New Testament.

“You have stated as much,” Jesus responded.
According to Jesus, the words they uttered were recorded and will one day be used to condemn them in their own court of law.
Our words will not only be used to find fault with the other person, but they will also be used to either convict or acquit us when we stand before God in judgment one day.
Perhaps we should take a moment to ponder this topic before pointing out the truth in someone else’s actions.
Or am I telling the truth just for the purpose of hurting the other person, or even to make myself feel better?
In the instance of Judas in today’s gospel, he desired not only to make himself seem better in front of the chief priests as a result of his privileged position in Christ’s inner circle, but he also desired to financially gain from it.
Also, the disciples were so innocent and trusting that no one even noticed his peculiar conduct, except for Jesus, who spotted it right away.
Despite the fact that Judas was around during the entire time, no one in their group seemed to have become friends with him since they were unaware of what he was up to.
This is also something that we should consider, especially in light of the high prevalence of violent crime in our culture.
In our culture, the worst crimes are frequently done by loners who act on their own, and the individuals closest to them have no idea what they were thinking at the time of their crimes.
Jesus confessed to Judas that he was aware of what was taking place.

Nevertheless, Judas’ heart had hardened to such an extent that he had to appear to have one when he answered, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” The moment we stop focusing on Jesus and the people around us and begin to concentrate solely on ourselves, we begin to drift farther and further away from our proper place in the kingdom of heaven.

Because we were created to love God and one another and to spend eternity together in our Father’s kingdom, we were born to love one another.

As we continue on our path toward our Father’s Kingdom, let us not become sidetracked from this goal and instead strive to be engaged and concerned in the lives of others around us.

Why did Jesus choose Judas knowing that he will betray Him?

This post is also accessible in the following languages: (Hindi) John 2:24, 25: Jesusknew from the outset that JudasIscariot would betray Him; yet despite this knowledge, He decided to provide Judas with an opportunity to know the truth and be cleaned by it. In response, Jesus asked His disciples, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve?” “Yet one of you is a demon!” says another. (See also John 6:70.) Judas had become blind to his own character flaws, and Christ, in his mercy, placed him in a position where he would have the chance to recognize and mend his ways.

A position among the twelve was given to him by the king.
It was He who bestowed upon him the ability to cure the sick and drive out devils (Matthew 10:1).
He acknowledged that the teachings of Christ were superior to any other teachings he had ever heard.
Judas, on the other hand, did not completely submit himself to Christ.
He did not abandon his worldly ambitions or his fondness for material possessions.
And he was dissatisfied when the Lord failed to take advantage of opportunities to gain worldly recognition (John 14:22).
Finally, during the Last Supper, Jesus foretold His betrayal and named the betrayer: “Jesus said, ‘It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish,'” says the Bible.
According to the gospel of Matthew 26:13–15, the chief priests offered Judas “thirty silver pieces” in exchange for betraying the Lord.
The narrative of Judas serves as a reminder of two important principles.
The second lesson describes the evil of sin and how it prevents people who adhere to it from seeing the light of the gospel of salvation.

The narrative of Judas depicts the tragic conclusion to a life that may have been rewarded by God had it been lived differently (2 Peter 3:9). BibleAskTeam is dedicated to His service. This post is also accessible in the following languages: (Hindi)

Why Did Jesus Choose Judas?

Transcript of the audio There are few questions in the Bible that are more confusing than this one: After all, if Jesus knew that Judas would betray him in the end, why did he pick him as a disciple in the first place? The confusing query comes from a radio listener called Austin, who has provided specifics about his situation. “Greetings, Pastor John. I’ve been reading through the book of John lately, and I’ve been thinking about why Jesus selected Judas to be one of his disciples in the first place, and I’ve come up with several theories.

“Can you tell us if there are any takeaways from this?” “Jesus knew from the beginning who those who would not believe were, and he knew who those who would betray him were,” according to John 6:64.

Jesus picked his own betrayer to be a member of his inner circle of apostles.

To explain why God decreed and Jesus picked Judas the betrayer to be a member of his team, I’m going to provide five biblical explanations that I believe are supported by the evidence.

1. Scripture cannot be broken.

In the Old Testament, it was predicted that something like this would take occur. As a result, Jesus picked Judas to carry out the prophecies. When Jesus speaks to his apostles in John 13:18 he adds, “I am not speaking on behalf of all of you; I know those I have chosen.” “However, the Scripture will be carried out.” In the next verse, he repeats the verse from Psalm 41:9, which says, “He who ate my food has lifted his heel against me.” “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled. concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus,” Peter remarks on the day of Pentecost, according to Acts 1:16.

The purpose of this demonstration was to demonstrate that the Scriptures are infallible and that God is in complete command.

2. Spectacular sins serve God’s purpose.

By choosing to be betrayed by a close friend, and even by a kiss, Jesus demonstrates to us that the most heinous crime in the history of the world — the betrayal and subsequent death of the Son of God — was a necessary element of God’s plan of redemption for the world. That is expressly stated in Acts 4:27–28, that these events occurred as a result of his hand and predestination. So, the lesson of Judas is that even the most horrific sins on the face of the earth are utilized by God to accomplish His objectives of salvation.

That’s an excellent lesson for us to take away.

3. Saving faith is not the same as religious activity.

With his selection of a disobedient apostle who was doomed from the start, his inclusion in his inner circle, and the grant of authority over unclean spirits and diseases, Jesus shows us that religious affiliations, religious practices, and miracle-working are not reliable indicators of one’s being resurrected. The selection of the twelve apostles is described in Matthew 10:1–4. According to the text, Jesus “granted them authority over evil demons, to cast them out, and to heal every illness and suffering.” It also mentions Judas (Matthew 10:1).

“Jesus walked closer to the cross, exerting great effort to fulfill every Scripture passage pertaining to his death.” In Matthew 7:22–23, Judas provides a vivid representation of the individuals who are being described: Many will come to me on that day and say, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many marvelous deeds in your name?’ That describes Judas — as well as many, many other people throughout history.

And then Jesus will say to them, “I never knew you; away from me, you workers of lawlessness,” which means, “I never knew you.” That right doctrine (“Lord, Lord, we know who you are; we have our doctrine correct, Lord, Lord”), religious activity, and miracle-working (“We have cast out demons; we have healed people”), and religious activity and miracle-working (“We have cast out demons; we have healed people”) prove nothing about saving faith and being born again.

That is the lesson learned by Judas.

4. Sovereignty does not undermine human responsibility.

It is through Judas that we can see how predestination and human responsibility are inextricably intertwined. Judas’s fate had already been written before his treachery. Except for Judas, “the son of destruction,” Jesus claimed to have preserved all of his followers from apostatizing (John 17:12). “Jesus knew from the beginning. who it was that would betray him,” the Bible states in John 6:64. “Jesus knew from the beginning.” “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless he has been granted permission by the Father,” Jesus revealed in the next verse (John 6:65).

Despite this, he was culpable – gravely guilty, completely liable, completely blameworthy.

“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” Jesus admitted in Matthew 27:4, quoting himself.

5. Satisfaction in money corrupts our souls.

With Judas, we have a stark reminder of the terrifying, terrifying power that the desire for wealth possesses and how it may blind us to what is truly true, beautiful, and worthwhile in this life. As recorded in John 12:4–6, as Mary anointed Jesus, Judas exclaimed, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” Judas was dripping with deceit. According to John, “He stated this not out of concern for the poor, but because he was an outlaw, and having control of the moneybag he used to take what was placed into it for his own use.” As he did so, he did so right in front of the very Son of God, who would later offer his life in exchange for the lives of many, whose teachings he had heard for three years and in whose authority he performed miracles.

Judas was more interested in money than he was in Jesus.

Each of us should shudder at the prospect of how money might blind us to what is genuine, beautiful, and valuable in our lives.

The Bible provides at least five explanations for why God would order, and Jesus would select, that a betrayer be included among the apostles from the beginning.

For the sake of fulfilling scripture: Scriptures cannot be violated, and God is in complete command
Even the most heinous sins serve God’s saving purposes as part of his overall sovereign plan. Time spent with Jesus and miracles performed are not evidence of saving faith
The concepts of predestination and human accountability are intertwined
The desire for money is the driving force behind the biggest sin on the face of the planet.

Was Judas “Predestined” to Betray Christ?

For the sake of fulfilling scripture: Scriptures cannot be violated, and God is in complete command. Despite their horror, even the most heinous crimes serve God’s saving purposes in his sovereign design. Saving faith is not demonstrated by spending time with Jesus or by performing miracles. It is impossible to separate predestination from human accountability. This world’s most heinous sin is motivated by a desire for material gain.

Was Judas’ Question, “Is It I?” Sincere?

According to Matthew 26:20ff, Christ told the disciples throughout the course of the Passover feast that one of them would betray him. “Is it I, Lord?” each of them inquired of the Savior as they approached him. It is incredible that each individual could go so far into his or her own psyche, wondering if he or she may be the perpetrator. Judas has posed the same question over again. “Does it happen to be me, Rabbi?” In response, the Lord stated (perhaps in hushed tones), “You have spoken so” (v.

A positive response was given to the effect that “Yes, you are the one.” Did Judas’ inquiry, on the other hand, suggest that he was unaware that he was the one who would betray the Lord?

Certainly not, for he had already made a deal with the chief priests to hand over Christ to them before they arrived (Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:10-11; Lk. 22:3-6). As a result, one must assume that the traitor’s inquiry was a sham, and that he was only repeating what the other apostles had already said.

Was Judas A Helpless Pawn?

Those who believe that Judas was nothing more than a weak pawn, unable to withstand Satan’s intrusion into his life, are mistaken. That is obviously not the case, as even Judas himself admitted in his confession. He never pleaded, saying only, “I couldn’t help myself; Satan forced me to do it!” His confession was something like this: “I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood” (Mt. 27:4). Modern man, twenty centuries after the occurrence, can claim to know more about the circumstance than the perpetrator himself, which is a fascinating anomaly.

How Was Judas’ Betrayal a Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy?

The apostle, however, did not explain what he meant when he said Judas died “in order that the scriptures could be fulfilled” (Jn 17:12; cf. 13:18). Psalm 41:9 is most likely the “scripture” that is being referenced to. Even my close buddy, in whom I placed my faith and who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me,” wrote the sacred writer (who is most likely David; see superscription), in reference to someone who had turned against him. It is significant to note that when the Lord quoted this scripture, he did not include the phrase “in whom I put my confidence” (13:18), stating that he “knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him” (Jn.

Judas was never trusted by the Lord.

Acts 1:16 must be interpreted in the same light as the rest of the Bible.

Foreknowledge Not Predetermination

The fact that foreknowledge does not imply predetermination is another key point to note. God foresaw that Judas would betray his Son because he was acting on his own free choice. The foreknowledge of Heaven is reflected in these verses, rather than a predestined deed over which the betrayer had no control. When he commented on John 13:18, Presbyterian scholar Albert Barnes stated that “it does not follow that Judas was obliged to take this route in order that the Scriptures would be fulfilled” (320).

36-38).

As stated in the Scriptures (Rom.

5:10), mankind will be held accountable for their own deeds on the Day of Judgment, not for activities that have been imposed on them by the Almighty.

Why did Judas betray Jesus?

QuestionAnswer While we can never know for definite why Judas betrayed Jesus, there are several things we can be confident of. First and foremost, despite the fact that Judas was chosen to be one of the Twelve (John 6:64), all scriptural evidence indicates that he never believed Jesus to be the Son of God. He may not have even been convinced that Jesus was the Messiah at the time (as Judas understood it). Unlike the other disciples, who addressed Jesus as “Lord,” Judas never addressed him as such, instead referring to him as “Rabbi,” implying that Jesus was nothing more than a teacher.

This lack of confidence in Jesus serves as the foundation for all of the other concerns that will be discussed further down.

If we fail to accept Jesus as God incarnate and, as a result, as the only One who is capable of providing forgiveness for our sins—along with the everlasting redemption that comes with it—we will be vulnerable to a slew of other issues that arise as a result of having a distorted vision of the divine.

When the synoptic gospels list the Twelve, they are usually given in the same basic sequence, with minor changes, with the exception of Matthew and Mark (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16).
Regardless of the differences, Peter and the brothers James and John are always mentioned first, which is consistent with their personal ties with Jesus and the apostles.
Aside from that, the only known exchange between Jesus and his betrayer Judas is Judas being scolded by Jesus after making a greed-motivated comment to Mary (John 12:1-8), Judas’ denial of his treachery (Matthew 26:25), and the act of betrayal itself (Matthew 26:26).
In a third instance, as we can see in John 12:5-6, Judas was overwhelmed by greed to the point of betraying not only the confidence of Jesus, but also that of his fellow disciples.
The fact that Judas was in control of the organization’s moneybag would show that he had a financial stake in the group (John 13:29).
Judas may have followed Jesus in the hope of reaping the benefits of being associated with Him as the next political force in the world.
By the time of Judas’ betrayal, Jesus had made it obvious that He intended to die rather than instigate a revolt against the Roman authorities.
Some Old Testament scriptures, some more precisely than others, allude to the violation of the king’s trust.
“I also told them, ‘If you believe it’s best, give me my salary; if you don’t, keep it,'” says the author.

And the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter,’ referring to the great price at which they had valued me.’ And with those thirty pieces of silver in my possession, I gave them to the potter who worked in the LORD’s temple (Zechariah 11:12-13; see Matthew 27:3-5 for the fulfillment of the Zechariah prophecy).

But, if God was aware of Judas’ treachery, did Judas have a choice, and is he held accountable for his role in the betrayal?
This is due in great part to our limited understanding of time.
In a linear sense, we see time as a straight line, and we go from one place to another gradually, recalling the past we have previously traveled through but being unable to see into the future we are about to enter into.
He exists outside of time.
However, Judas had the entire capability to make his decision—at least until “Satan came into him” (John 13:27), and God’s foreknowledge (John 13:10, 18, and 21) in no way exceeds Judas’ ability to make any particular option in any specific situation.
“I’ll tell you the truth: one of you will betray me—and it will be the one who is eating with me right now” (Mark 14:18).
As for culpability for this betrayal, Jesus said: “Woe to the one who betrays the Son of Man!
We see in John 13:26-27 that Satan played a role in this, and he will be held accountable for his actions as a result of them as well.
Because Satan assisted in the sending of Jesus to the cross, sin and death were vanquished, and God’s provision of redemption is now freely available to anyone who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior (Romans 6:23).

Go back to the page with all of the Bible questions. What was the reason behind Judas’ betrayal of Jesus?

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QuestionAnswer Despite the fact that we will never know why Judas betrayed Jesus, there are several things we may be sure of. Judas was chosen to be one of the Twelve (John 6:64), yet all scriptural evidence leads to the fact that he never believed in Jesus as the Messiah or as the Son of God. His belief that Jesus was the Messiah may have even been questioned by him at one point (as Judas understood it). Instead of addressing Jesus as “Lord,” Judas spoke to him as “Rabbi,” implying that Jesus was nothing more than a teacher, in contrast to the other disciples who addressed him as such.

In the absence of trust in Jesus, the other elements stated below are built on top of it.

As a result of our failure to recognize Jesus as God manifested in the flesh, and as such, as the only One who can provide forgiveness for our sins—and the eternal salvation that comes with it—we will be subject to a slew of other problems that will arise as a result of our incorrect understanding of God.

They are usually included in the same basic sequence with minor differences when the synoptic gospels list the Twelve, despite the fact that they are written in different languages (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16).
Despite the variances, Peter and the brothers James and John are consistently named first, which is consistent with their personal ties with Jesus and with one another as disciples.
Aside from that, the only known exchange between Jesus and his betrayer Judas is Judas being scolded by Jesus after making a greed-motivated comment to Mary (John 12:1-8), Judas’ denial of his treachery (Matthew 26:25), and the actual betrayal itself (Matthew 26:26).
Third, as we can see in John 12:5-6, Judas was overwhelmed by greed to the point of betraying not only the trust of Jesus, but also the confidence of his fellow disciples.
Given that Judas was in control of the group’s moneybag, it would seem that he had a financial stake (John 13:29).
Judas may have followed Jesus in the hopes of reaping the benefits of being associated with Him as the next political leader in the world.
The betrayal of Jesus by Judas was a strong indication that He intended to die rather than lead a revolt against the Romans at that time.
Some Old Testament lines, some more precisely than others, allude to the treachery of the king and his people.
“I also told them, ‘If you believe it’s best, give me my pay; if you don’t, keep it,'” she continued.

And the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter,’ referring to the great price at which they had valued me!’ And with those thirty pieces of silver in my possession, I gave them to the potter who worked in the Lord’s house (Zechariah 11:12-13; see Matthew 27:3-5 for the fulfillment of the Zechariah prophecy).

Was Judas given an option, and is he held accountable for his role in the betrayal if God was aware of his actions prior to the betrayal?

If we believe that God exists outside of time, having created everything before the beginning of “time,” we may comprehend that God considers every instant in time to be the present, as well.

Although God is eternally present in time, he is not located inside it or on the timeline; rather, he is situated outside of it.

However, Judas had the entire capacity to make his decision—at least until “Satan came into him” (John 13:27), and God’s foreknowledge (John 13:10, 18, and 21) in no way exceeds Judas’ ability to make any particular option in the first place.

The fact is, one of you will betray me—and it will be someone who is dining with me.

Take note that Jesus refers to Judas’ participation as a betrayal of the kingdom.

We see in John 13:26-27 that Satan played a role in this, and he will be held accountable for his actions as a result of them.

Because Satan assisted in the sending of Jesus to the cross, sin and death were vanquished, and God’s offer of redemption is now freely available to anyone who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

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