Did Jesus Make a Mistake When He Picked Judas?

Acts 1:12-26

Jesus picked Judas to be one of his disciples because he knew that it was God's will, even though he later indicated that he knew Judas would be the one to betray him. Jesus humbled himself and treated Judas as one of God's faithful followers to fulfill God's plan.

This is part 2 of a series on Acts.
Series Introduction
Part 1

Jesus hand-picked Judas as one his inner-circle. Judas was one of Jesus’ twelve Apostles. Did Jesus know when he picked Judas that he would betray him?

We know Jesus knew he would be betrayed. He knew it because it was written in the Scriptures—which Jesus was familiar with—that this must happen to God’s Messiah. If he knew Judas would betray him when he picked him, then maybe he picked Judas for that reason—because Judas would betray him, so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled regarding Jesus, God’s Messiah? But whether Jesus knew when he picked Judas or not, he certainly knew later on. He identified him to the other Apostles as the one who would betray him.

While Judas was destined, according to God’s sovereign plan, to betray Jesus. Nevertheless, he was a willing participant in the working out of God’s sovereign plan. That was why he was held responsible for his betrayal (Acts 1:18,25).

Similarly, Jesus was destined according to God’s sovereign plan to be betrayed and crucified. Nevertheless, he was a willing participant in the working out of God’s sovereign plan. Jesus knew what was ahead for him as God’s Messiah, he knew Judas would betray him and that he would be crucified. Yet he wholeheartedly embraced God’s will and his part in the fulfillment of God’s will. Jesus was honored by God for his obedience.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippines 2:6-11)

Judas’ betrayal must have profoundly shaken the other Apostles. Even when Jesus specifically pointed out Judas and dismissed him from the Last Supper to go and betray him, the others couldn’t believe it and didn’t listen to Jesus. This shows us just how trusted and above reproach Judas was in the group. Judas, the others thought, would never betray Jesus.

One Wednesday night many years ago, following a church prayer meeting, the FBI arrested the pastor of the church. It turns out over the previous year he had robbed eight banks in the area, netting around $50,000, which he used to pay prostitutes he had been seeing. This C&MA pastor was serving in a church about twenty miles from me. He was the secretary of our District Governing Committee. He was sentenced to eight years in federal prison.

I found this incident especially troubling. I knew this pastor, but not very well. But I wondered how it could be that he could be actively engaged such sin while pastoring a church and serving on the District Governing Committee. I wondered why it was that God didn’t give, or why nobody had some kind of discernment that something was wrong with this man.

Jesus’ disciples were wrong about God’s will regarding his Messiah. They expected a earthly king who would come with great earthly power. That was what they had in mind. But God’s will was very different. His Messiah would come in humility. He would be betrayed and crucified. God’s kingdom was not of this world. The disciples were in the dark about what was going on. They could have known if they would have accepted what was written in the Scriptures and listened to what Jesus told them.

Just after Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, he appeared to two of his disciples as they walked on the road to Emmaus. They were perplexed about all that had happened and about reports that Jesus had been raised from the dead. They did not recognize Jesus as he walked with them. Jesus rebuked them saying, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory” (Luke 24:25-27)?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

What we see in the opening verses of the book of Acts is that Jesus’ Apostles were starting to learn this lesson: that God has a plan that he is sovereignly working out and he calls his servants to be part of what he is doing. God does not exist to serve us and our purposes. We exist for him, for the accomplishing of his purposes, for his glory. This is a life-changing reorientation.

Just before Jesus left his Apostles he gave them a “big-picture” overview of what he wanted them to do: They would receive enabling (power) when Holy Spirit comes on them. And they would be Jesus’ witnesses, telling people about him everywhere—even to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). That was a mind-blowing, frightening commission for eleven men who at that point were fearing for their lives.

As Jesus was taken up into a cloud while his Apostles were watching, two angels (white-robed men) appeared and said, “Why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” In other words, they should be confident God is in control and working out his plan. They are to be part of that plan. “So get going!”

So they went to an upper room back in Jerusalem. The eleven Apostles gathered together with about 120 believers, Mary, Jesus’ mother, some other women and Jesus’ brothers. And they looked to God in dependence: They gave themselves to “united prayer” asking God to reveal his will to them. What was the next thing he wanted them to do? They searched the Scriptures which were inspired by the Holy Spirit, for direction from God. And they relied on one another. They stayed together. They lived in community as the followers of Christ.

The next thing that was God’s will for them to do, was to fill the position that was open by Judas’ betrayal and death. They did the next thing.

What is the orientation by which you live your life? Who is at the center of your universe? Is it you, or is it God? Does he exist for you, or do you exist for him? God calls his servants to be participants in his glorious kingdom. “Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven.” Is this the orientation of your life? How are you to participate in God’s kingdom? How are you to know what he wants you to do? (1) Constant, dependent prayer: asking him to reveal his will and to enable you to do it. (2) In humility search the Scriptures to know God’s expressed will. (3) Live in community, in fellowship with other followers of Jesus.