If You Love Your Jesus, You’ll Love Your Judas

Let me set the stage for you…

Imagine a major crime has occurred. The FBI is on the case, hunting down the suspect. This suspect has committed multiple crimes, and agents are now questioning the people closest to them, friends, coworkers, confidants.

Each person is tempted. Some are pressured. But only one folds.

One person gives up the location of the suspect, not immediately, but eventually. The pressure builds. The temptation creeps in. And finally, someone breaks.

Now, hold that story in your mind and let’s take a look at a real moment in history. Open your Bibles with me to John chapter 13.

We all know this moment: Jesus washing the disciples' feet. An intimate, holy moment among Jesus and his disciples. 

But something deeper is also happening here. It’s also the time when Jesus calls out Judas as being the one who will betray Him!

Verse 2 says:

“The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Him.”

So the seed was already planted, even before the meal began.

Think back to the FBI story: Do you think the Romans only questioned Judas? When governments investigate, they don’t stop with one person. They cast a wide net.

So why Judas? Why was Judas the one to betray?

Now jump to John 13:18. Jesus says:

“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen…”

Let’s pause here.

Many scholars have debated this line. Did Jesus choose Judas knowing what he would do? Maybe. Did Jesus specifically choose Judas to betray Him? We will only know when we get to heaven. But what’s clear is this: Judas was one of the twelve. He was chosen.

Then Jesus says:

“…that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”

So Judas, this man we’ve often labeled as villain, was part of the plan.

Let's move to verses 25 - 27. Jesus says:

“It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread…”

And after He gives Judas the bread, He says:

“What you do, do quickly.”

And in that moment, Satan entered Judas.

Jesus didn’t stop him.

Jesus released him.

He permitted the action. Judas had free will, just like we do today. And Jesus let that choice play out… for our good.

Let’s imagine something:
What if Judas had never been tempted to give up Jesus when questioned?
Better yet, what if the authorities had never approached him?

Would Judas still have done it? If Jesus let the plan be known the the disciples and then asked Judas to be the one to turn Jesus in, Judas would have said NO! He would have said, Lord, I’d never do that, I. Love. You. You see the one thing that we do have in common with Judas, dating all the way back to Adam and Eve is free will!

But once the temptation entered his heart, and Jesus handed him that bread, it was like handing him a key. A key that would unlock the door to Judas’s future brothers and sisters salvation and Jesus gave Judas permission to use it by saying; “What you do, do quickly!”

Jesus knew the chain reaction had to start somewhere. And even in betrayal, God used that moment to fulfill His plan.

Because following that moment, the veil was torn.
The cross was carried. Jesus died and rose again!
And the Holy Spirit was given to dwell in us. Something Judas would never get to see. Whether Judas knew it or not, he used the one thing we do have in common (free will) to give us the one thing we don’t have in common, that we GET to have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us! 

I think about where Judas is now. I can’t pretend to know since I’m not YET a bible scholar but my wonders… He just may be suffering our eternal suffering for us. That’s powerful. Judas is not Jesus, don’t get me wrong! But Judas was a key player in the story. Sure God could have made it happen with or without Judas! But Judas was a good guy turned bad in this story and I know we’ve all wondered how or why!

When I first started going back to church, my life turned upside down. I started seeing a Christian counselor, once a week, then every other week, then once a month. This was over a span of 2 years.

And every time, my counselor reminded me of this verse:

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

I had to believe that with all my heart because I needed to know that my pain, my confusion, and my broken pieces could be used by God for something good. And that’s what happened with Judas. You see, the disciples had no idea what Jesus meant when He handed Judas the bread. The bible even says in verse 29:

“For some thought because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.”

Imagine, being one of them and realizing after Jesus died that Judas was the one who turned Him in! I’m sure they were questioning why! I’m not sure if they remembered what Jesus said to them just before….

So back to John 13:34 - 35:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you… by this all will know that you are My disciples.”

Jesus loved Judas.

Verse 1 of chapter 13 says this; He “loved them to the end”, not just Peter, not just John, but Judas too.

Jesus loved the one who betrayed Him. He washed his feet, ya’ll! And that is what love looks like.

So here’s the hard truth:

• If you’ve been hurt, betrayed, or abandoned, you can still love.

• If you are a Judas, there’s still hope, still grace, and still a God who loves you.

• And if you love your Jesus, you’ll love your Judas too.

YOU’LL LOVE YOUR JUDAS TOO!

So with that, I want to end with a prayer I’ve prayed over my children since elementary school. It’s simple and starts like this:

“I pray wisdom over you, that you have the heart to choose the right things! 

I pray that over you tonight.

That you would choose love. That you would forgive boldly. That you would live by the Spirit inside of you, not by the wounds done to you.

Because if you love your Jesus, you’ll even love your Judas. And with that, I’ll finish the last line of the prayer..

God is with you. Make good choices. I love you and have a great night.