Dear Explorer,
Read John 13:18-20
Verse 18 reveals the intimacy with which Jesus' had shared with Judas. In the eastern culture, sharing food was an act of friendship. Judas had spent 3 years as part of Jesus' closest companions. He had the opportunity to observe Jesus for 3 full years, he ate the bread from His hand, and yet would choose to reject Him.
When you see the phrase in John 13:18 that says that this happened to fulfill Scripture you must be very, very careful with what you believe. I cannot find any Scripture to support the fact that some people are just "destined" to be bad. I find numerous, numerous Scripture that tells me that each person has a freedom of choice. So, what does it mean that Judas rejected Jesus to fulfill Scripture?
I believe that what you are seeing is God's foreknowledge. God already knew that 3 years of intimate fellowship with Jesus would not soften Judas' heart or change his mind about inviting Jesus into his core.
I believe that God already knew what Judas would do a 1000 years before Judas was born!!!!!! Did God make it happen? No! But He already knew that it would.
I do not believe that God created Judas to reject Jesus. I believe that Judas was given every opportunity to open His heart to Jesus. He had complete freedom to choose from day one until the day he died -- but God already knew that He wouldn't. It's vitally important that you sort out what you believe about God's "predestination." There are a lot of different beliefs out there. I personally believe in John 3:16 which says whosoever believes in Him shall be saved.
Foreknowledge without fore action is an incredibly hard concept, but God is bigger than we are, and His ways are not our ways.
Jesus' love is available to ALL. I do not believe He withholds that invitation from anyone. And He puts the longing to know the Creator in each and every one of us according to Romans 1:20. But, I also believe that Jesus will 100% respect your wishes to stay empty.
Judas was not treated like an outcast. Jesus knew the truth all along yet continued to love him and call him to Himself. The other disciples were totally unaware that Judas was faking it.
God knows if you are faking it, too. We cannot see into the heart of people – but God can. He knows who is in control of you and whether you are a sheep or a goat. Therefore, we should be loving toward all and leave the judging up to God.
In His service, dale
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