Judas

[joepasque]

I realise that I am playing a dangerous game and want to state from the outset that I am a convinced Christian. However, one thing has hit me in the past few weeks:

Was Judas Iscariot a servant of God?

After all, God sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we may be reborn in a new life in service to Him. He must therefore have known how this was to come about. Judas must therefore have been helping (serving?) God when he carried out his betrayal because it was the fulfilment of God's plans and the action that led to the salvation of mankind.

I am not suggesting that Judas acted out of any other need thatn greed, which he gained through original sin. What I am suggesting is that it was through his actions that God's plans were fulfilled. My point is therefore this - in betraying Jesus Judas was in fact actively finishing God's mission of salvation and therefore serving Him, as it was through Judas' actions that salvation for mankind came about.

Controversial I know, but its a thought that I have been thinking about for a while and it is a point that not even I have a firm view on. Any contributions are welcome.

Cheers

 

[jiggyfly]

Was Judas Iscariot a servant of God?

In the begining he was but soon became a servant of self, which led him to become a servant of Satan.

Judas the apostle with power to cast out devils and heal the sick.

Matthew 10:1-8
1*And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2*Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3*Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4*Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5*These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6*but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7*And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8*Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Judas now serving himself.

John 12:3-6
Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar* of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance.
4*But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples—the one who would betray him—said, 5*“That perfume was worth a small fortune.* It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6*Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief who was in charge of the disciples’ funds, and he often took some for his own use.

Finally Judas serving Satan

John 13:21-27
21*Now Jesus was in great anguish of spirit, and he exclaimed, “The truth is, one of you will betray me!”
22*The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. 23*One of Jesus’ disciples, the one Jesus loved, was sitting next to Jesus at the table.* 24*Simon Peter motioned to him to ask who would do this terrible thing. 25*Leaning toward Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”
26*Jesus said, “It is the one to whom I give the bread dipped in the sauce.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry. Do it now.”

 

[Chad]

Hello Joe welcome to Talk Jesus. What jiggyfly mentioned is true and straight from Scripture. I'd like to add also that each and every one of us has freedom to choose GOD's side or satan's side. What Judas did was simply out of his own freedom regardless of knowing GOD's plan (which he did) or not. He certainly did not do his wrong to "fulfill" GOD's plans but it was GOD Himself who already knew what Judas would do but worked around it, prophesied earlier in the Bible and was finally fulfilled when Judas did his actions.

Question: Why did GOD choose Judas if He knew he would betray Jesus Christ?

Answer: every person has freedom. We are all sinners, alive by GOD's grace. Every breath of life is another chance from GOD to repent and turn to Christ.

Judas in the end sadly out of his own freedom chose to side with satan out of greed as you mentioned already.

Judas did not purposely become greedy and act against Jesus for sake of fulfilling prophecy. GOD is the one who confirmed the prophecy would be fulfilled (as all are and continue to be) before Judas was even alive. Jesus prophesied it as well shortly before Judas did betray Him.

God bless you.

 

[jiggyfly]

Judas did not purposely become greedy and act against Jesus for sake of fulfilling prophecy. GOD is the one who confirmed the prophecy would be fulfilled (as all are and continue to be) before Judas was even alive. Jesus prophecied it as well shortly before Judas did betray Him.

Amen Chad, there's a difference between All Knowing and Controlling. The Word states that God is Love and The Word also states that Love does not demmand it's own way.


1John 4:7&8
7*Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8*But anyone who does not love does not know God—for God is love.

1Corinthians 13:4-7
4*Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5*or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. 6*It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.