Why Did Jesus Choose Judas?

[Music] there are few more perplexing questions of the bible than this if he knew that he would betray him in the end why did jesus choose judas as a disciple to begin with the perplexing question comes in specifically from a podcast listener named austin hello pastor john i've been studying through the book of john lately and i began to wonder why jesus chose judas to be one of his disciples in the first place and what does jesus have to teach us by choosing someone to be his disciple knowing full well he would betray him are there any takeaways for us in this john 6 64 says jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe and who it was who would betray him so austin's question is biblically based and urgent jesus chose his own betrayer to be part of his apostles why i'm going to give five answers that i see in the scriptures for why god ordained and jesus chose judas the betrayer to be part of his team first because the old testament scriptures prophesied that this would take place so jesus chose judas to fulfill the scriptures john 13 18 jesus says to his apostles i am not speaking of all of you i know whom i have chosen but the scripture will be fulfilled and then he quotes psalm 41 verse 9 he who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me and peter on the day of pentecost acts chapter 1 verse 16 says brothers the scripture had to be fulfilled concerning who became a guide to those who arrested jesus step by step jesus moved toward the cross taking pains to fulfill every scripture concerning his death right down to the details of how he would be handed over the point was to show the scriptures cannot be broken and god is in control second by choosing to be betrayed by a close friend and even by a kiss jesus shows us that the most despicable act in the history of the world the betrayal and consequent murder of the son of god was part of god's saving plan it's explicitly said in acts 4 27 that by his hand and his predestination these things took place in other words the lesson of judas is that the most horrible sins in the world are used by god for his saving purposes just when people think they're getting the upper hand they find that their hand is serving the very one they are opposing that's a great lesson for us to learn third by choosing from the beginning an apostle who was destined for apostasy and destruction and by including him in his closest relations and by giving him power over unclean spirits and over diseases jesus shows us that religious associations and religious practices and miracle working are no sure evidence of being born again matthew 10 verses 1 to 4 describe the choosing of the 12 it names judas and says jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast out and to heal every disease and every affliction judas walked with jesus ministered with jesus for three years and he worked those miracles so judas becomes a vivid illustration of the people in matthew 7 22. on that day many will say to me lord lord did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name that's judas and many many other people in history and then jesus will declare to them i never knew you depart from me you workers of lawlessness what a vivid lesson to learn that right doctrine lord lord we know who you are we wait we got our doctrine right lord lord and religious activity and miracle working we've cast out demons we've healed people prove nothing about saving faith and being born again that's the lesson of judas fourth judah serves as an illustration that predestination and human responsibility go hand in hand judas destiny was set before his betrayal jesus said that he kept all his disciples from apostasy except judas the son of destruction john 17 12. in john 6 64 it says jesus knew from the beginning who it was who would betray him and then jesus explains in the next verse this is why i told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the father in other words judas didn't repent because it was not granted to him by the father his destiny was sealed and yet he was guilty really guilty really accountable really blameworthy he was really responsible for what he did he himself said in matthew 27 4 i have sinned i have sinned by betraying innocent blood so we learn from judas not to stumble over the fact that a person may be destined for destruction and yet totally responsible for what he does and finally number five judah serves as a vivid example of the terrible terrible power of the love of money and how it blinds us to what is true and beautiful and valuable in this world in john 12 4 to 6. when mary anointed jesus judah said oozing with hypocrisy why was this ointment not sold for 300 daenery and given to the poor and john comments he said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and having the charge of the money bag he used to help himself to what was put in it under the nose of the very son of god who would give his life as a ransom for many whose teachings he had heard for three years in whose power he did miracles judas loved money more than he loved jesus that's horrific unbelievable unspeakably evil it should make every one of us tremble at the thought of the power that money has in our lives to blind us to what is true and beautiful and precious so when judas got his chance 30 pieces of silver is all it took to sell the very son of god i'm sure there are more answers to austin's question but these are at least five answers that i see in the bible as to why god would ordain and jesus would choose that a betrayer be included among the apostles from the beginning one to fulfill scripture scriptures cannot be broken and god is in control two even horrific sins serve the saving purposes of god in his sovereign plan three time with jesus and miracle working are no proof of saving faith four predestination and human accountability go hand in hand and five the love of money is behind the worst sin in the world amen john 12 is an incredible text for a lot of reasons mary pouring out her wealth on the feet of jesus reminds me of apj 1499 titled what does freedom from the love of money look like freedom from the love of money looks like mary at the feet of jesus one of my all-time favorite apj episodes check that out that's episode 14.99 on what it looks like to be free from the love of money you can find it at our online home at desiringgod.org forward slash ask pastor john and there you can send us your own questions search or browse all 1600 of our past episodes or subscribe to the podcast well we're going to break for the weekend but lord willing we plan to be back with you on monday i'm your host tony ranky thanks for listening to the ask pastor john podcast with longtime author pastor john piper have a wonderful weekend

Channel: Desiring God

Views: 203,439

Keywords: Desiring God, John Piper, God, Jesus Christ, Christianity, Christian Hedonism, Ask Pastor John, APJ, Judas, Choose, Providence, Sovereignty, Christ, Disciple, Betray

Id: ed4rVdaZ-EQ

Length: 10min 45sec (645 seconds)

Published: Fri Mar 05 2021