Chosen: Judas the Disciple
“He [Judas] was numbered with us and
obtained a part in this ministry.” (Acts
1:17)
But as Jesus said, only
one of His most trusted
disciples would turn on
Him. Only one would
betray the confidence
of the Son of Man. And
yet, when Jesus revealed
this harsh truth to His
twelve closest students
and friends, there came
twelve desperate pleas
asking “Lord, is it I?”
Life as a disciple was not an easy
undertaking. A person required more
than mere desire to be a member of
Jesus’ inner circle. In order to be a
disciple of Jesus, one had to be accepted.
For many, their introduction into
discipleship was the Jesus’ simple call
to “Follow me.” (Mark 2:14; Matthew
4:19, et al.) It is a very powerful
experience to read the Gospel accounts
of Jesus building His inner circle.
Judas’ individual invitation to
discipleship is missing from the
Gospels. Did Judas come to Jesus,
hoping to be accepted? Or did Jesus
surprise Judas with an invitation?
This remains a mystery. While some
do come to Jesus and ask to be part of His work, it is a two-way agreement.
Consider Jesus speaking of His intentional relationship with His disciples:
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you
servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called
you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and
bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in
My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.
(John 15:14-17)
Those who know the Gospel of John have probably already noted that
Judas was not actually present when Jesus spoke the words above (he was busy
preparing for Jesus’ capture), so it seems that Judas Iscariot is not one of Jesus’
chosen. However, reading this account from Luke clearly shows that Jesus
intentionally chose Judas Iscariot.
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and
continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples
to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon,
whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and
Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called
the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot [editorializing omitted]. (Luke
6:12-16)
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