What Kind of Friend Was He?

 It was Judas that betrayed Jesus. But why did he?  Jesus had said at the Last Supper with them, that there would be someone that would do that. Had His disciples had been confused. Did they even deny that they would not ever betray their friend. 

  I am using gotquestions.org today to get some idea of why that one man would do that to "his" friend Jesus, whom he had followed during His ministry. 

Read On:

Why did Judas betray Jesus?

While we cannot be absolutely certain why Judas betrayed Jesus, some things are certain. First, although Judas was chosen to be one of the Twelve (John 6:64), all scriptural evidence points to the fact that he never believed Jesus to be God. He even may not have been convinced that Jesus was the Messiah (as Judas understood it). Unlike the other disciples that called Jesus “Lord,” Judas never used this title for Jesus and instead called him “Rabbi,” which acknowledged Jesus as nothing more than a teacher. While other disciples at times made great professions of faith and loyalty (John 6:68; 11:16), Judas never did so and appears to have remained silent. This lack of faith in Jesus is the foundation for all other considerations listed below. The same holds true for us. If we fail to recognize Jesus as God incarnate, and therefore the only One who can provide forgiveness for our sins—and the eternal salvation that comes with it—we will be subject to numerous other problems that stem from a wrong view of God.

Second, Judas not only lacked faith in Christ, but he also had little or no personal relationship with Jesus. When the synoptic gospels list the Twelve, they are always listed in the same general order with slight variations (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16). The general order is believed to indicate the relative closeness of their personal relationship with Jesus. Despite the variations, Peter and the brothers James and John are always listed first, which is consistent with their relationships with Jesus. Judas is always listed last, which may indicate his relative lack of a personal relationship with Christ. Additionally, the only documented dialogue between Jesus and Judas involves Judas being rebuked by Jesus after his greed-motivated remark to Mary (John 12:1-8), Judas’ denial of his betrayal (Matthew 26:25), and the betrayal itself (Luke 22:48).

Third, Judas was consumed with greed to the point of betraying the trust of not only Jesus, but also his fellow disciples, as we see in John 12:5-6. Judas may have desired to follow Jesus simply because he saw the great following and believed he could profit from collections taken for the group. The fact that Judas was in charge of the moneybag for the group would indicate his interest in money (John 13:29).

Additionally, Judas, like most people at the time, believed the Messiah was going to overthrow Roman occupation and take a position of power ruling over the nation of Israel. Judas may have followed Jesus hoping to benefit from association with Him as the new reigning political power. No doubt he expected to be among the ruling elite after the revolution. By the time of Judas’ betrayal, Jesus had made it clear that He planned to die, not start a rebellion against Rome. So Judas may have assumed—just as the Pharisees did—that since He would not overthrow the Romans, He must not be the Messiah they were expecting.

There are a few Old Testament verses that point to the betrayal, some more specifically than others. Here are two:

“Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9, see fulfillment in Matthew 26:14, 48-49). Also, “I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’ So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the handsome price at which they priced me!' So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter” (Zechariah 11:12-13; see Matthew 27:3-5 for the fulfillment of the Zechariah prophecy). These Old Testament prophecies indicate that Judas’ betrayal was known to God and that it was sovereignly planned beforehand as the means by which Jesus would be killed.

But if Judas’ betrayal was known to God, did Judas have a choice, and is he held responsible for his part in the betrayal? It is difficult for many to reconcile the concept of “free will” (as most people understand it) with God’s foreknowledge of future events, and this is largely due to our limited experience of going through time in a linear fashion. If we see God as existing outside of time, since He created everything before “time” began, then we can understand that God sees every moment in time as the present. We experience time in a linear way—we see time as a straight line, and we pass from one point gradually to another, remembering the past we have already traveled through, but unable to see the future we are approaching. However, God, being the eternal Creator of the construct of time, is not “in time” or on the timeline, but outside of it. It might help to think of time (in relation to God) as a circle with God being the center and therefore equally close to all points.

In any case, Judas had the full capacity of making his choice—at least up to the point where “Satan entered into him” (John 13:27)—and God’s foreknowledge (John 13:10, 18, 21) in no way supersedes Judas’ ability to make any given choice. Rather, what Judas would choose eventually, God saw as if it was a present observation, and Jesus made it clear that Judas was responsible for his choice and would be held accountable for it. “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me” (Mark 14:18). Notice that Jesus characterizes Judas’ participation as a betrayal. And regarding accountability for this betrayal Jesus said, “Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born” (Mark 14:21). Satan, too, had a part in this, as we see in John 13:26-27, and he, too, will be held accountable for his deeds. God in His wisdom was able, as always, to manipulate even Satan’s rebellion for the benefit of mankind. Satan helped send Jesus to the cross, and on the cross sin and death were defeated, and now God’s provision of salvation is freely available to all who receive Jesus Chri

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Oh. So maybe Judas wasn't so much a friend of Jesus after all? Maybe that is why he did what he did. I am sure that there came a time when he realized he had been wrong and wished he could go back to change that decision. 

Have you ever said to yourself, "If I had been Judas, I never would have done to Jesus, what he did."

Friends, we do it every day. We betray Jesus, when we sin against what His spilt blood did for us on Calvary, over 2000 years ago. 

There are many people that do not know Him, and do not want to know Him, that might as well be Judas themselves. 

Thankfully, for those of us, that have felt God's call and have answered it, we do not have to have the judgement of Judas passed on us. We will never live to regret giving Him our hearts. And someday, when we pass from this earth, we will especially be thankful to meet our Savior who loves us so!

Thanks for coming by today. The next post will be Sunday, April 2. God bless!

The Last Supper

The Last Supper

Luke 22:7-38 KJV

Luke Chapter 22

7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betraye

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The day of the Passover had come. Jesus and his disciples sat down to the meal. I wonder if his disciples had any forethought about what this day really meant this time? Or was it to be just like the other days of Passover that had come before?

It doesn't seem by reading today's verses, that they were confused by what he was saying. Did they really understand it?

When he took the wine and bread, did they look around the table and really get what he was sharing with them really was about.?  What was it that went through each of their minds that day?

Whatever they thought, this would be their last meal with him until God's Kingdom comes again. This hasn't happened yet, but one day it will. And Jesus will be there with all that has accepted him in this life and we will have a seat at what is said in Revelation 19:9, The Marriage Super of the Lamb. 

What a day that will be! 

Jesus had more to say during that meal. What was it? It really put into perspective what one of his diciples really thought of this man Jesus.

Thanks for coming by, Friends. Next post will be tomorrow, March 31st.

What does the Bible say about Passover?

Passover is the oldest and most important religious festival in Judaism, commemorating God's deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and His creation of the Israelite people. The festival of Passover begins at sunset on the 14th of Nisan (usually in March or April) and marks the beginning of a seven-day celebration which includes the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The highlight of Passover is a communal meal, called the Seder (which means "order," because of the fixed order of service), which is a time to rejoice and celebrate the deliverance for the Hebrews that God accomplished through the exodus.

The New Testament Passover is a memorial of the suffering and death of Jesus. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8). Passover is in early spring to remind how God spared His people from death in Egypt. Learn more from our list of Scriptures mentioning Passover in the Bible.

(source for this portion is as follows)

Learn more about Passover at: What is Passover? Understanding the Important History and Christian Traditions

The Dastardly Thing

 I am going to change my subject on joy for today. It  on the subject of debt.

Huh? Why that subject?

Well, if we are honest, we are all in debt for something. I myself have been in debt for all of my married life. And it didn't all go away just because my husband passed away last year. 

I still have a mortgage and that is ok as I can afford to live where I am and don't worry about ending up on the street.

.Have you ever had a debt that was paid off by someone else. Maybe someone in your family knew you needed help and stepped in to help you?

If so, were you grateful to that person. Or did you just take for granted that you got the help you needed?

And if you were that kind of person, how you must have made that person grieve or even mad that you had not considered them enough to appreciate what they did for you.

But really, that isn't the kind of debt that I am speaking about today.

I am talking about the debt that is  the kind that we celebrate during this time every year.

Easter.

Sometimes, we must do that to God. We want to forget what Jesus did for us so we can go our own way and do the things we want to do.  And how sad it makes He who gave up His only Son Jesus, to come down to be the sacrifice for the sin of all the world. 

Jesus knew the debt we have was one that no human would ever be able to pay. And he offered himself as the One and only that could get us completely out of debt if we just ask Him to forgive us.

Jesus had paid the full price for it on that day. Not considering Himself, but thinking of all those that come before and after Him to do such a dastardly thing. 

Thank God though that He still waits for us to come back to him. For us to remember the price that Jesus paid for us. Because with out His forgiveness, we are lost and we will never live with Him in eternity. 

It is my challenge for you to be grateful with me for these next few days, to read His Word about the death of Jesus, and Know you and I are truly loved and forgiven. Come back on 5/30 for Day One. 

Thanks for coming by, Friends. Blessings to you and yours

Joy is the Pursuit of God

Do you remember when you were growing up, what joy life was? All the new things that you learned? All the things that you got to do?

Of course there are many children that grow up in homes where there is alcoholism, divorce, drugs and more.

But I am thinking of the homes where there was at least some good times and joy. Families whose home life wasn't abusive, even though there may have been problems. 

Where did all those years go? Years that when we grew to adult hood and had to enter into responsibility. Of raising kids. Of keeping a home. Of sharing our life with a mate. Of holding a job. 

Joy doesn't usually just come up and hit us on the head. We might have to find it. We might have to pray for it. 

But instead we sometimes go looking for it in all the wrong places.

The best place to find it is in our pursuit of a Holy God. Our Father that loves us and wants to share a relationship with us.

And those pursuits of Him sometimes start at an ulter where we ask God for forgiveness of our sin. They might start in someone's home that leads us in a salvation prayer. It might start and even continue in simply reading His Word.. Where there is an abiding peace with Him. Along with everlasting joy even when we don't feel very happy. He is there for us. In our quiet times alone when no one else sees our pain. 

Romans 15:13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.

1 Chronicles 16:27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.

1 John 1:4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

These verses are just a few, showing us that God wants us to experience Joy. He does not look down from his high place in heaven to crack a whip at His creation to make us miserable.

Would you not agree, that we make ourselves miserable enough at times?  And then sometimes we might even blame God for the fact we are miserable. Or at least for letting us getting into the messes we do?

God is love. He is our refuge. He is our strength. He is our all and all. 

He is our God.

That is for those that love and are his children through the shed blood of his Son, Jesus. 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. I hope you are having a joyful and blessed Lord's Day in Jesus.

Joy is knowing....

....and believing that with God all things are possible. Mathew 19:26

Have you ever had a situation come up in your life that seemed impossible to believe good can come out of it?

I certainly have.

Just last fall, even as my husband had passed away,

God used that time to give me the longing of my heart.

There have been other times as well.

But this one, this one had been a miracle.

I didn't know how he was going to do it.

But I had asked. I had known. I had believed...

that God could do what I could not.

And he chose to do it at a time

that I was broken hearted

and desperately needed it.

And it brought me much joy

and peace.

Because above all else,

I knew that God

loved me.

And there is none like like him.

2 Sammuel 7:22

He can also do the impossible for you as well. 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Next post will be 3/25

God bless you!

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Joy is Singing to God

 

Maybe you remember this little song from your childhood years in Sunday School and Bible School. 

God loves to hear us sing praises to him. And no doubt he loves to hear little children sing to him as well. Maybe even more so than adults. 

But no matter if we are young or old, he loves us to sing to him.

 Psalm 104:33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will sing to my God while I have my being.

We don't usually sing when something is wrong in our lives. When tradegy hits. When we feel like our lives are running down the tubes.

But you know what. Those times are probably the best times to sing to the Lord. Even when we are at our darkest.

At any rate, being able to sing to God, brings joy into our lives, no matter when we do it. And those words we sing to him goes straight to his ears. Because he loves us.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. May the rest of your day be full of blessing from God!

God's Amazing Grace Brings Joy

 Have you gone through any problems lately?  Have you felt let down by God? Have you wondered if he is even hearing your prayers? 

If you have then you need to learn the following scripture so that when trouble comes knocking and doubt's start to form in your mind, you have it to stand on.

 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Joy comes from knowing that His grace is all we need. It is why Christ died to save us from our sin. It is how He can forgive us from the sin that would lead us where we do not want to go without it. 

It is Joy unspeakable!

It is unmeasurable!

And it is amazing!

Who or what else can bring us that kind of joy but Jesus? 

No one

Nothing 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Have a blessed day

Joy is God's Love For Us

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

I grew up not feeling that my mom loved me. But as I realized later, she really had the best she could, but because mental illness interrupted her life, she could not fully show me. I believe towards the end of her life, she realized that and tried to do better at letting me know it. It was something we never talked about. But by the time that she realized it, gone were the feelings of resentment that I had that lasted well into my adult life. And I understood the whys much better then I did. Her last year on this earth was a gift to me and when her time came, I was able to let her go to Jesus, knowing as she went, her pain of this year life, had gone too. 

What I have also realized is that no matter who in my life has not been able to show me love as I think they should, or couldn't for some reason, I know one thing.

God does love me. He has always loved me; He will always love me.

He loved me so much that He gave his only Son for me. That is where my joy is today. It will always be for me tomorrow, next year and in eternity.

 

The Joy of the Lord is my strength.  Nehemiah 8:10 Even in my weakest days. He is my strength. 

Jesus died for the world. Because he loved the world. And as it says in the graphic above, we cannot brag on our love for Him because we fail him every day.

But we can brag about His love for us because.... He never fails us.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Next post will be 3/16.

May God bless you throughout the rest of the day!

Joy is Our Eternal Home

                                                                            

 What will heaven be like?

The late Rev. Billly Graham explained heaven this way:

Heaven for the Christian will be a place of glorious life that will never end. Joy inexpressible, limitless peace, pure love, beauty beyond description—that’s what heaven is. Greatest of all will be the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, with who Loved ones who have known and loved the Lord will be there. Revelation 21:2 says, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Mr. Graham has written: “Heaven will be a place in which its inhabitants will be freed from the fears and insecurities that plague and haunt us in the present life. No energy crisis there … Free from the economic and financial pressures that burden us down here. Free from the fear of personal and physical harm … No fear of personal failure … Our relationship with Him will be intimate and direct. I’m looking forward to that glorious day of going to heaven.

“Heaven will be what we have always longed for. It will be the new social order that men dream of. All the things that have made earth unlovely and tragic will be absent in heaven. There will be no night, no death, no disease, no sorrow, no tears, no ignorance, no disappointment, no war. It will be filled with happiness, worship, love, and perfection.

Heaven will be a place to challenge the creative genius of the unfettered mind of redeemed man.” Revelation 21:4 says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

However, the Bible makes clear that there is only one way to heaven, and that is through repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ who said, “I am the way …” (John 14:6). Jesus paid for our sins through His death on the cross. God offers us the free gift of friendship with Him in this life and eternal life in heaven when we die if we will but turn from sin and trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved …” (Acts 16:30).

Wow! And I would add that it will be even more grand than his description. I imagine that upon his death, he took in the most beautiful place than what he thought it could be. And getting to spend it with his loved ones as well as with Jesus?  To me that is imaginable. The Joy of heaven is waiting there for those of us that have asked Jesus to forgive us our sin, to ask him to come into our hearts and asked him to be the Lord of our life. That is what pure joy is. For us. Because just remember folks. This life on earth is not our final home. We are just passing through. 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Have a blessed weekend. I will be b ack on Monday!