Why Did Jesus Ever Choose Judas To Be An Apostle?
Good Morning Friends,
One of the saddest characters in the Bible is Judas Iscariot. He had such promise. His name sake, Judas Maccabaeus is in the history books as the brilliant military strategist who led an uprising for Jewish independence in 164 B.C. In fact, many of the disciples had the name of Judas. It was that common. But Judas Iscariot, though possibly influenced by this story of the Maccabaeus, found in the Apocrypha in the books of 1 and 2 Maccabaeus, was not such a hero. No doubt Judas expected Jesus to lead a revolution. But by the time of Judas’ betrayal, Jesus had made it clear that He planned to die, not start a rebellion against Rome. Judas may have followed Jesus hoping to benefit from association with Him and may have assumed—just as the Pharisees did—that since He would not overthrow the Romans, He must not be the Messiah they were expecting. Yes, Judas may have been an opportunist. But he was also a thief, the only Judean of the twelve, and from time to time possessed by evil. Some say that he came from a clan of assassins. And the thing is that Jesus would have known all this about him and still called him friend. Jesus must have seen something good in Judas. I have no doubt that Jesus would have forgiven him if Judas had repented. But I imagine Calvin would consider Judas as being predestined for damnation. Dante puts Judas in the deepest and darkest pits of hell. But Catholics, to my knowledge, do not make a claim as too the eternal consequences of Judas’ actions that figure so prominently in the story we are remembering this week. For me I just do not know. But I will tell you that the whole thing about Judas is a bit embarrassing on one level. When I think about this there is always one question that troubles me. Why Did Jesus Ever Choose Judas To Be An Apostle?
Scripture: The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
Isaiah 50:4-9a (NRSV)
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
Matthew 26:14-25 (NRSV)
He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
John 6:71 (NRSV)
“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
John 12:5-6 (NRSV)
Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me.
Psalm 41:9 (NRSV)
Message: There are probably many reasons Jesus did what he did regarding Judas. One reason could be that Jesus wanted to show us how to love even our enemies. Another reason could be that God wanted to leave an example for us that even those we trust may not be honest. We all need to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. But as for the disciples, they were blinded to Judas, but I do not think that Jesus was blind in this regard. The thing is that Jesus did find a way for Judas to fulfil scripture.
Judas was part of God’s plan. When you do a careful study of the life of Judas, interesting detail emerges. Judas was the only one of the twelve apostles who was not a native of Galilee. He was from the Judean town of Kerioth. Some historians note that Judas was related to a band of Jewish assassins called the Sicarii. But despite all this Judas was chosen to be the treasurer of the apostle’s money and apparently had his hand in the till. So, one must wonder why Jesus would entrust Judas with the cash box knowing this inclination. But Jesus saw a purpose in Judas, maybe even something good but also something very dark. And therein lies the message for us. Some theologians try to harmonize it all. But all that controversy and maneuvering does not bring us any closer to understanding why Jesus chose Judas Iscariot. The reality is that Judas remains a controversial figure in Christian history. For instance, Judas’ betrayal, from the Gnostic perspective, is viewed as setting in motion the events that led to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection which, according to traditional Christian theology, brought salvation to humanity. This view is rejected by the mainstream Church as heretical. If Judas were to be the best of the apostles he would have had to have repented and been forgiven by Jesus. Judas, to my knowledge, never did so and appears to have remained silent. This lack of faith in Jesus is the foundation for all other considerations. The same holds true for us. If we fail to recognize Jesus as God incarnate, and therefore the only One who can provide forgiveness for our sins—and the eternal salvation that comes with it—we will be subject to numerous other problems that stem from a wrong view of God.
Pray we not try to fix the Bible but use its message to help heal ourselves. Pray we never betray Jesus. Pray we realize that Satan helped send Jesus to the cross, and on the cross sin and death were defeated, and now God’s provision of salvation is freely available to all who receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Pray we realize that God in His wisdom was able, as always, to trick even Satan’s rebellion for the benefit of mankind. Pray we realize that we have a choice and will be held accountable for our choice. Pray we see clearly and completely as best we can. Pray we realize that we still must have faith to be set free. Pray we never sell out.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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