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John Piper | – Why Did Jesus Choose Judas? // Ask Pastor John
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If Jesus knew that Judas would betray him in the end, why did Jesus choose Judas as a disciple to begin with?
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 specifically from a podcast listener named Austin. “Hello, Pastor John. I have 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?”
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John, where do you come down on the cultural changes that are confronting the Church? Funding worldwide abortion, men being lauded for being “women”, women being honored for pretending they’re men, and boys & girls being encouraged to do the same? Are you excited with the thought of being forced to do a same sex marriage? Are you thrilled with the thousands of people pouring over the borders, undocumented? Do you worry, considering the systemic racism in America, that they may face discrimination? Or do you fret because more tax money may go to them rather than to reparations to heal the racial inequality of the land? Do you worry about us running out of money? Or are you an advocate of printing oodles of fresh money? And what of our increased reliance on foreign oil? Such wonderful, new opportunities for learning to cooperate with the nations! And of us re-engaging the Paris climate accords? We can finally assuage our climate-guilt as we pay to halt climate-change to facilitate climate-justice! These are such heady, exciting times of cultural change. Aren’t you joyous that mean-tweet Trump isn’t around so slow down the progress?
Question: If Judas had the authority to cast out demons, how does this fit into the picture put forth by Jesus in Mark 3 starting in verse 22?
Paul Hahn John says “it is baffling and presumptuous to assume that pro-abortion policies kill more people than a culture-saturating, pro-self pride.” Since 1973 65 million children have been brutally murdered in the most painful, ghastly ways imaginable. With Biden financing the killing worldwide, this number is sure to explode. I can see how abortion kills. The child is dismembered as it is sucked out by a powerful suction machine. Or it is cut up, disemboweled and pulled out via forceps. Or the child, while alive, is pulled out of the vagina while alive, and then the head, while still inside is punctured, the brain is sucked out, head crushed, and the child delivered. Or poison can be injected into the baby, and the mom carries her around until they know she’s dead. As an alternative, burning chemicals can be introduced into the womb to simply scald the child to death. See, I can see how abortion kills. Do you think John could describe for us just how Trump’s culture-saturating, pro-self pride kills? And where did he hide the bodies?
Does this mean Judas's destiny was sealed just to betray and he still could've been saved if he repented afterward?
In God is our trust
The man who kissed the door of heaven and went to hell.
God never tempt us to do evil or sin. Judas loved money more than the living God aka Jesus. Judas sealed his own fate by committing suicide. He could have repented just like how Peter denied Jesus but later on went full speed towards preaching the gospel. Both Peter and Judas betrayed Jesus but Peter became a vessel of honor while Judas became a vessel of dishonor. All things works towards the good without Judas betrayal there would be no salvation.
How can we know that we are saved then?
Turn away from sins and have trust in Jesus Christ to be saved and believe he died on the cross and rose from the dead!! and the Lord willl change your heart to love righteousness!
I just finished a fabulous book about the false prosperity preachers that goes hand and hand with what Pastor John said about Judas and money. It’s name is “I Never Knew You” by Patrick Higgens. If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free. Otherwise, I think it’s just a few dollars. Money well worth it; it has shaken me to the core and shown me where I too, have fallen short of the glory of God! This book is a novel but loaded with scripture.
I dont understand how predestination and responsible go hand in hand ? Predestination means to me to set in stone .to have no control .to mean that this person will do it .because God willed it so . Predestination is the opposite of free will .
Personal responsibility would mean Judas had 100% complete control over his actions and thoughts and can do whatever he wants. And can go against God's will
Do you understand? Can you help me understand?
why Judas? why not Peter?
AS JESUS ALWAYS SAY
THOSE WHO HAVE EARS LET THEM HEAR
BECAUSE HE KNEW JUDAS WILL NOT CHANGE
SAME KING SAUL SPIRIT OF GOD LEAVE HIM
PHARAOH HARDENED HIS HEART
GOD KNEW WHO ARE HYPICRITES AND THOSE WHO LOVES HIM
GOD IS IN CONTROL
JUDAS WAS PART OF STORY OF JESUS TO REVEAL THE TRUTH THAT EVIL THINGS FROM SATAN ARE REAL
THE ONE WHO STEAL, KILLS AND DESTROY..
IT MUST BE WRITTEN.. TO LET US READ THE DIFFERENCE OFJUDAS AND PETER
A MAN WITH OR WITHOUT REPENTANCE..
GOD BLESS
Most do not understand the difference between a believer and a Christian. There are very very very few believers who have allowed the Holy Spirit to sanctify their heart in God’s truth and so they are not a Christian. They are simply a misguided and sinful believer since they cannot comprehend what scripture is relating to us.
A CHRISTIAN IS SOMEONE WHO IS EXACTLY “LIKE CHRIST.” We are a people who can never sin and we can never get sick. We are the very very few who truly understand God’s word and we are disciples who have been set free from the sicknesses of this evil world since we have overcome our sin and our ignorance of truth.
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:31-32 NKJV
A Christian is someone who is able to communicate with Jesus. Jesus of course knows what dwells inside everyone’s heart and so Jesus will tell a Christian whether someone they come across is saved or not or if they have blasphemed the Spirit with their misguided beliefs and so much more. This is what it means to possess the mind of Christ since a Christian possesses the ability to judge everything and everyone that they encounter.
“These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
I Corinthians 2:13-16 NKJV
So if you do not possess this blessing in your life then you are not a Christian. You are what God calls an unclean believer since you do not understand scripture and you are simply twisting various scripture verses in order to justify the sin and the sicknesses that you possess in your own misguided life.
Most believers will often use 1 John 1:8-1O or Romans 3:10 and 3:23 to try and justify their sin and when they do they prove that they have no idea what those scriptures are even relating. These scriptures are simply relating that everyone is born a sinner so they are not living righteously and so they fall short of the glory of God. They are relating that this is why we need to repent and confess our sins to God so that He will then forgive us. They also relate that anyone who believes that they have never sinned is then calling God a liar. But nowhere are they ever stating that a believer will always sin as most are foolishly believing.
Others will try to justify their sicknesses by claiming that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a sickness or they will try to manipulate what John 9:3, 1 Timothy 5:23, Galatians 4:13 and Philippians 2:26 are relating to us in order defend why they have sickness in their lives. Some will even try to use Job and others from the Old Covenant without even realizing that we are all born in sin and that there was no forgiveness of sins in the Old Covenant since Jesus had not arrived yet.
To prove my point try and give me just one scripture verse that states that a believer will always sin or that a believer cannot stop sinning? Give me one scripture verse that states that a believer will possess sickness in their lives or where scripture states that sickness is a normal part of this life? Guess what there are none and this is why misguided believers have to twist the meaning of scripture since they are trying to justify why they continue in sin and why they have sickness in their lives.
This is why only a remnant of us will be saved since most believers are nothing more then ignorant souls who clearly do not understand God and scripture. They have ignorantly chosen to follow the road that many believers travel and they never discovered the truth that the very few of us sanctified believers have.
“And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’”
Matthew 13:14-15 NKJV
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV
“Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.”
Romans 9:27-28 NKJV
“Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
I Peter 4:18 NKJV
So if you can sin or if you can get sick then you definitely are not a Christian and you have fallen for the lies that are being fabricated by the millions of false preachers that exist in this evil fallen world. Jesus is our one and only teacher and He commanded us to follow Him and He did not command us to follow any foolish preacher at their man made temple or even here on this wicked internet.
“However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest?”
Acts 7:48-49 NKJV
I possess this wisdom because I went through God’s purification process. My sanctification took year of endless hours in prayer and reading scripture and it required my faith, patience, suffering and quite a bit of endurance. Because I am now born of God I can no longer sin nor can I ever get sick and it is very easy for me to discern a child of God from a deceived believer who follows the devil’s lies or who has blasphemed the Spirit of truth.
“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”
I John 5:18 NKJV
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:36-37 NKJV
Wow! Great exegesis
amen, thanks pastor John
Amen!
So that God be glorified. Why did God allow Satan to tempt Job? Why did God choose Jacob (Israel)? Why did God harden pharaoh's heart? Why did God choose Saul?
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, 1Timothy 6:10.
Father please save us from this world.
The 3rd lesson at 3:30 was huge!!! Man I felt my stomach wrench.
So that scripture could be fulfilled
According to some theologians
Judas will reappear as the antichrist
The son of pedition
Great message! I also thought about Jesus being our High Priest who suffered as a man and is able to sympathize with us (Hebrew 2,18; 4,15), incl. experiencing betrayal.
We should test this video with the bible.
Well explain Pastor John.Thank you very much.
He said something that I don't understand and it seems contradictory . He said that, "Judas did not repent because he was not granted forgiveness " which implies everyone else was granted forgiveness besides Judas . Forgiveness is granted to those who confess and God does not stop anyone who wants to confess and this consistent all throughout the bible , why is it an exception when it comes to Judas ? I agree with everything else he said expect the aforementioned . I think he has a flawed view about what happened.
Why did God commit mass genocide?
It doesn't actually answer the question. God doesn't exist in a time constraint and is omniscient and omnipotent. He could've predicted that some enemy betrayed Him and bring that it to pass. But God deliberately chose it this way. So still would like to know why, but God will reveal it one day.
It is a very powerful message having done it this way with Judas. God also shows us that the sun shines on the good and bad alike, that He never keeps anything from those that are destined to hell. He even entrusted Judas with an important task of being the treasurer that He didn't ask of any other.
Thinking about predestination scares me to no end. It basically means that some of us are predestined to Hell and there's nothing we can do about it. It's seems weird for a loving God to create a human being knowing they would make decisions (in this case, wouldn't matter what decisions they made) that would ultimately lead them to Hell. Why wouldn't God just not create that human instead of creating it for the purpose of going to Hell? Doesn't this also negate the concept of free will?
Regarding predestination and personal accountability going hand in hand, I always thought this saying of Jesus perfectly summed it up: "Woe to the world because of scandals! For it's necessary that scandals come, and yet woe to the man by whom the scandal comes!"
Judah not Israel was chosen to betray.
Trump was surrounded by Judas's. Never Trumpers acting like friends.
Isn't it great that the baby killers are in power and Trump is out JOHN?
Can you read the gospel of Judas?
Just like king Nebuchadnezzar…. He was in no wise a righteous man or king… But God used him to fulfill his will whether he wanted to or not!! An when he bragged about what he had done… God put him out in a pastor eating grass with the cattle!! Pride goeth before the fall!! An Jesus gave us many examples of discernment of those that are wolves in sheep's clothing!! 1. If you drink, cuss, lie, cheat an steal an lust after that which is your neighbors… Whether it's money, possessions or there wife… You are not a child of God!! 2. Lord, lord have we not done all these things in thy name? Many preachers an teachers an false prophets will not enter in!! 3. Jesus said plainly there's more going to he'll than to heaven.. Strait is the gate an broad is the the path for destruction… An narrow is the way an be there few that find it!! 4. Lust for money power, greed, sex have always been the main things that will destroy men… 5. You go to a church an all the preacher teaches is blessings an prosperity! Run for your life!!! 6. If a preacher doesn't stand on Jesus Christ or ever mention his name in his sermons… Run!!! Find another church!! 7. All things will an shall be fulfilled… That's why he chose Judas… He knew he would be faithful in his wickedness… According to his purpose he was called to do what he did!! So again not everyone that is called is good or righteous!! For they are driven by another master an purpose!! Remember that children of God!! I've seen how quick people have turned there backs during this so called pandemic!!! An how quickly they will betray one another!! This is all to prepare you for what is to come! Love an grace an hope unto all…
But, I believe Judas still had a choice. Even after betraying Jesus, he had a choice to ask for forgiveness. But, he did not really know Jesus despite walking with Him for three years. So, he hung himself.
My question is : if he is destined and sealed that his (Judas) fate , therefore his actions are leaning towards bad than good. So if that's the case , he has no control of the circumstances, even to repent and be deeply engaged with the Holy Spirit work, but is set at the beginning to be his fate designed to that misery?
So, meaning to say , regardless of the works we did , if we are destined and also in the beginning were sealed to be not saved ,then we are forever doomed even before we are born. And works are vain, and nothing.
What should we do in order to evade the fate of Judas? Or can we really evade it? Or can we do the works that satisfy the will of God in order to evade the same fate of a Judas? I think none.
What about the greatest example. Jesus loving his enemy…even washing his feet.
The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
Genesis 49:26 KJV
If Judas destiny was already predestined then is it completely Judas fault ? Because Jesus purposely let him loose and made him do what he wanted to do just to fulfil the prophesy. So since it was completely an act where Judas had no choice. Is it fair to say Judas is a criminal ?
Does that mean that Judas was predetermined to go to hell? So he has no chance for heaven?
God bless you Pastor John! Thank you for sharing the TRUTH of the Word of God always!
Solid answer!
I could follow up with a question, but Judas is destined for hell right?
Someone had to betray Jesus so that He could die
Oh, Christians! We want an answer to our question from your wise.
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If the Lord was murdered by some people.
what sort of god is this?
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We wonder! Was He pleased by what they did to Him?
If yes, blessed be they, because they achieved his pleasure .
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But if He was discontented; this means their power subjugated His!!
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Was the whole entity left without a Sustainer who answers the prayers?
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Were the heavens vacated when he laid under the ground somewheres?
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Were all the worlds left without a God that arranges the matter of the creation while His hands were nailed?
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Why did not the angles help Him when they heard him while he wailed?
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How could the rods stand to bear the True Lord when He was fastened.
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How could the iron reach Him and His body pinioned?
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How could His enemies’ hands reach Him and slap His rear.
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And was Christ revived by himself or the Reviver was another god?
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What a sight it is! A grave that enclosed a god!
What’s more weird is the belly that had Him in it!
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He stayed there for nine months in utter darknes, and fed by blood!
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Then he got out of the womb as a small baby,
weak and gaping to be breastfed!
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He ate and drank, and did what that naturally resulted in (defecation and urination).
Is this a god??!!
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Exalted and high is the Almighty God above the lies of Christians.
All of them will be held accountable for their libels
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Oh Christians, for what reason the cross is it exalted, and for what reason you blame whoever rejects the cross?
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Isn't the logic to break and burn the cross?
Since the Lord was crucified on it and his hands were fastened to it?
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That is really a cursed cross to carry, so discard it
Don’t kiss it!
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The Lord was abused on it and you adore it?
So you are one of the Lord's enemies!!
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If you extol it because it carried the Lord of the worlds.
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Why don’t you prostrate yourself and worship graves, since the grave contained your god in it?
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So, Christians, open your eyes,
this is what the matter is all about.