John 13:2
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
Now, we realize that Judas Iscariot was tempted by the devil putting the idea into his heart to betray Jesus. The devil could enter Judas to tempt him to do this evil as Judas was a thief by nature even by then. Look at the below scripture, which confirms that the devil or Satan entered Judas Iscariot to tempt him.
Luke 22:3
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Once the scripture was fulfilled by Judas Iscariot, Jesus led him to REPENTANCE. Look at the below scriptures:
Matthew 27:3-5
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
The above scriptures reveal that Judas Iscariot truly repented over his sin. In the whole Bible, we never see any man, who committed suicide as an act of repenting over sins. Yes, it was only Judas Iscariot, who repented in this manner. He so repented over his sin that He did not want to check whether Jesus could face the death or escape the death because of his betrayal. In other words, he killed himself before Jesus was killed on the cross. What a true REPENTANCE!
Yes, our righteous Lord, Jesus Christ led Judas Iscariot to such a wonderful REPENTANCE in order to make sure that Judas Iscariot remained in the Apostleship and sit on one of the 12 thrones in the kingdom of God as Jesus had promised him in Matthew 19:27-28.
Matthew 19:27-28
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Why did Jesus call Judas Iscariot to be one of the 12 Apostles?
Well, Jesus did so as Judas Iscariot played a major role in the fulfillment of the Scripture. Thus, God proved Himself as righteous by not allowing the thief, whom God used to fulfill the scripture, to end up in hell.
We see in the Book of Acts, how the rest of 11 Apostles were quick enough to join someone else to fill the gap in the Apostleship created by Judas Iscariot.
Acts 1:23-25
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
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The above scriptures prove that the 11 Apostles had already made the major decision of appointing someone as the 12th Apostle in place of Judas Iscariot. They never wanted to consult God regarding His will concerning this decision. Instead, they sought the Lord for choosing the suitable one of the two persons whom they themselves had selected. They needed the answer from God in the form of Urim and Thummim - (Yes/No). However, they did not hear anything from God even though they prayed.
Later, in seeking the Urim and Thummim from God, they did something else.
Acts 1:26
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Casting lots was a method in the Old Testament, which was used to know the will of God in the form of Urim and Thummim (Yes/No). We read in the Book of Jonah how the people on the ship identified Jonah by casting lots, as the cause for the distress which had come upon them.
In the New Testament, God speak to our spirit through two kinds of emotions through the Holy Spirit. In other words, Urim and Thummim (Yes/No) are made directly known to our spirit though two kinds of emotions by the Holy Spirit.
However, when the 11 Apostles were trying the method of casting lots, they had already entered into the New Testament, but God had not sent the Holy Spirit to the world. This Matthias whom the 11 Apostles appointed as the Apostle in place of Judas, was not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. If Matthias was qualified to be an Apostle among the twelve, what about St. Paul?
Hence, the final decision taken by the 11 Apostles cannot be regarded as the Will of God.
CONCLUSION
- It was not the own idea of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. But he was prompted by the devil to betray Jesus.
- Judas Iscariot was used to fulfill the Scripture by betraying Jesus as he was a thief by nature.
- Jesus led Judas Iscariot to REPENTANCE as soon as he fulfilled the Scripture.
- Judas Iscariot remains as one of the 12 Apostles in the kingdom of God.
- Judas Iscariot would be seated with the other apostles on 12 thrones as Jesus promised them.
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