Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | John 13:11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 13:11 For He knew who was going to betray Him; for that reason He said, "Not all of you are clean." |
Subject: Do you forgive Judas? |
Bible Note: Hi Robert Nicholson, I thank you also for your response. I think also that Judas lost his ministry and his apostleship. But I don't think that it necessarily follows therefore that he was unforgiven. Luke 23:34, "But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves." One might say that Jesus was talking about the soldiers who were fulfilling Scripture unbeknown to them. But I think that he had in mind the people who were sneering at Him and speaking the big "if" word. "Let Him save Himself *IF this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One. Luke 23:35 They didn't know what they were doing for they only knew Him as a man who was dying on a cross. But I also think that Jesus had in mind the one who had betrayed Him. The one whose betrayal, death, and lost apostleship had been prophesied in Scripture. John 13:18b, "but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.' From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." Jesus did not say on the cross, "Father, forgive them, except for Judas of course." Remember that this is the One who told people to love your enemies and He did love Judas to the end. In fact He loved the whole world, John 3:16b, "that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." So I believe that Jesus died for Judas also. John 12:47. Jesus did not come to judge but to save. John 3:18, "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." This verse tells us how we are to be judged, namely our belief in the Son of God. But just like Jesus did not come to judge we also should not judge anyone as far as hell is concerned. Although we should not judge anyone, it is clear what the judgment is. John 3:19, "And this is the judgment, that the Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." Now the question remains therefore, if you want to judge Judas and know for sure where his place is; Did Judas believe in the Son of God? 1) Did Judas follow the Pharisee, scribes, and even Caiphas as a convert to their way of thinking? See John 18:14. Did Judas think that this is just a mere man who would have to die for the people? John 11:47, "Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man [Man, NKJ] is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." So in the view of Judas seeing His mighty miracles and hearing His words, did he know Him as the Son of God or not? If he saw Jesus as just a man then he was concerned about "his own place" and his own nation alone. If Judas saw Him as just a man then the Pharisees had won him over as a convert and proselyte and when he becomes one is made twice as much a son of hell as themselves. See Matthew 23:15. 2) Now if Judas' place is prepared for him in heaven, then in the garden he must realize that Jesus was who He said He was. Jesus said "I am ." [or I am He]. In a discussion in a similar thread I stated that I saw Judas saying in Mark 14:44, NKJ, "Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One, seize Him and lead Him away safely." In other words, in contrast to a mere man. Thus making him a true believer in the One, but being misled and not knowing what he was doing. I think that it is important for us not to prejudge people that we come into contact with in our lives. There are many Judas types out there for which we do not know their true and final beliefs and outcomes. That is why people should be hesitant to put Judas in his place. From the heart, Ray |