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Bible Question: Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot as a disciple if he knew he
was going to betray him?
Bible Answer: The answer is that Jesus selected him because this was part of God's plan. Jesus drops the first hint that He would be betrayed while He is speaking to a large crowd of "disciples,"
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But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. (NASB) John 6:64 |
John 6:66 says that many of His "disciples" left Him after this.
Why did so many leave Jesus? The answer is many did not really
believe in Jesus. Is it not interesting that Jesus called them
betrayers. Those who are real Christians will not turn traitor
and desert Jesus. This passage also tells us that this was no
surprise to Jesus. He knew who the traitors would be.
Jesus Chose Judas. Yet, Jesus chose Judas Iscariot as a disciple anyway,
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Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve,
and yet one of you is a devil?" Now He meant Judas the son of
Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray
Him. (NASB) John 6:71 |
And John 12:4 tells us again that Judas was intending to betray
Jesus. Why did Jesus choose Judas? There are probably many reasons.
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 real. John
13:22 tells us that even after Jesus told His disciples that one
them would betray Him, they did not know who that was.
Why Jesus Chose Judas. The main reason Jesus chose Judas is given to us in John 13:18-22,
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I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but
it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'HE WHO EATS MY BREAD
HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.' . . . He became troubled in
spirit . . . and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of
you will betray Me." The disciples began looking at one another,
at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. (NASB) John 13:18-22 |
It was done so that the prophecies of old would be fulfilled.
The prophecy quoted here is Psalm 41:9. Judas was such an evil
man that John 17:12 tells us that Judas is the son of perdition.
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While I was with them, I was keeping them in Thy name which Thou
hast given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished
but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
(NASB) John 17:12 |
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