One of you is the devil. His name was Judas or in Hebrew Judah. Judah was once a popular name among the Jews, but that changed with Judah from Kerioth or Judas Iscariot. Judah means praise in Hebrew. In English, Judas has come to mean someone who betrays another’s trust for the sake of silver. Its sad how some of have tied all Jews to Judas and have forgotten that eleven Jewish followers of Jesus laid down their lives for Him. God chose Jewish disciples to write the New Testament and to establish the Christian faith.
Why did Jesus choose Judas to be one of His twelve disciples? He knew Judas would betray Him. There was no possibility of converting this man. The verses that came to me this morning as I meditated on this passage were Isaiah 14:12-17, Ezekiel 28:12-15 and Revelation 12:7-9. Passages where God explains that Lucifer once brought praise to Him, but then, wanted to be God, and raised a rebellion against God, and was thus, expelled from heaven by God’s angel Michael. Was Jesus in choosing Judas teaching us something about the Kingdom of God?
Earlier in John 6, Jesus told a crowd, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” [2] In other words, do not be so enamored with God’s created things that you miss the Creator when He is standing right in front of you.
God the Father has set His seal on Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah. He is the gate to enter the sheepfold. He is the One who gives everlasting life. Worship Jesus! He is the One all heaven adores. Stick with the eleven loyal followers of Jesus and serve Him. Proclaim His Name! Be His disciple!
Follow Jesus, because as Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [3]
[1] John 6:70-71
[2] John 6:27
[3] John 6:68-69
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