Why Did Jesus Choose Judas?

There is much speculation about why Jesus chose Judas Iscariot to be one of his Twelve Apostles. Judas was certainly not the most upstanding man, and he would eventually betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. So why would Jesus choose Judas to be one of his closest followers?

One possibility is that Jesus saw potential in Judas. Perhaps Jesus believed that Judas could be reformed and that he would eventually turn away from his sinful ways. This is certainly a possibility, and it is one that Judas himself may have believed.

Another possibility is that Jesus chose Judas because he knew that Judas would betray him. This may seem like a strange thing to do, but it is possible that Jesus chose Judas because he wanted to sacrifice himself for the greater good. By betraying Jesus, Judas would inadvertently help to fulfill Jesus' prophecy that he would be crucified. In this scenario, Jesus would be using Judas as a tool to achieve his ultimate goal.

Whatever the reason, it is clear that Jesus had a plan for Judas, even if Judas did not fully understand it. Judas played a vital role in Jesus' mission, even if it was not a role that he necessarily wanted to play. By betraying Jesus, Judas helped to ensure that Jesus' message would reach a wider audience and that his sacrifice would not be in vain.

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There are many theories as to why Judas betrayed Jesus, but no one can know for sure what his motivations were. Some say that Judas was simply following orders from the high priests, who were looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus. Others believe that Judas may have been jealous of Jesus’ popularity and felt threatened by his growing power.

It is also possible that Judas simply made a mistake. He may have thought that by handing Jesus over to the authorities, he would be helping to bring about his eventual liberation from the Romans. Judas may have also been influenced by Satan, as Jesus himself predicted (Luke 22:3).

No matter what Judas’s reasons were, his betrayal had a profound impact on the course of history. It led to Jesus’ arrest, trials, and crucifixion, which ultimately resulted in the Spread of Christianity and the rise of the early Church.

Judas’s betrayal of Jesus is a reminder that even those who are closest to us can sometimes betray our trust. But it also shows that even the worst of sinners can be forgiven and given a second chance. As Jesus said to Judas after his betrayal, “Friend, do what you are here to do” (Matthew 26:50).

It is impossible to know definitively what Judas felt after he betrayed Jesus, but it seems safe to assume that he felt intense remorse and regret. It is possible that he felt duped by the religious authorities, who may have promised him a different outcome for Jesus than what actually transpired. Judas may have also felt betrayed by Jesus, who he may have thought was going to lead a rebellion against the Roman Empire but instead was arrested and crucified. Judas likely felt immense guilt for his role in Jesus' death and may have thought that he could have saved him if he had made different choices. All of these feelings would have been compounded by the knowledge that Jesus was innocent and did not deserve to die. Judas' betrayal of Jesus would have forever changed his life, and it is likely that he spent the rest of his days thinking about the weight of his actions.

There is no clear answer to the question of whether Judas regretted betraying Jesus. Some biblical accounts suggest that Judas regretted his decision, while others imply that he may have felt justified in his actions. In either case, Judas's betrayal of Jesus led to his death, and it is unlikely that he ever stopped feeling the weight of that responsibility.

The Gospel of Matthew includes Judas's remorseful suicide as evidence of his regret for betraying Jesus. Matthew 27:3-5 says, "When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 'I have sinned,' he said, 'for I have betrayed innocent blood.' 'What is that to us?' they replied. 'That's your responsibility.' So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself." This account implies that Judas regretted his decision to betray Jesus and felt responsible for his death.

The Gospel of Luke also mentions Judas's remorse, but does not attribute it to regret for betraying Jesus. Luke 22:3-6 says, "Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present." In this account, Judas does not seem to regret his decision to betray Jesus, but rather Satan's entrance into him. This account does not attribute Judas's remorse to any specific action, but rather to his possession by Satan.

The Gospel of John does not mention Judas's remorse, but does include his suicide. John 18:2-5 says, "Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, 'Who is it you want?' 'Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied. 'I am he,' Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was

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The other disciples likely felt betrayed and confused by Judas' actions. While they may have not fully understood why he did what he did, they would have been hurt and disappointed that he betrayed Jesus. Judas was one of their own, and they would have expected him to stand by Jesus, no matter what. His actions would have been a shock to them, and they would have struggled to understand his motivations. In the end, they would have likely come to the conclusion that Judas' betrayal was a result of his own personal failings and weaknesses, rather than any malice towards Jesus.