Judas' Apostasy in Light of God's Faithfulnessနမူနာ

Jesus never quit loving Judas, and never stopped offering him grace.

Jesus washed Judas’ feet (John 12:5).

Jesus in John 13:21 was troubled in spirit (which means inner agitation, emotional distress; but never means angry).

Dipping bread and giving it to Judas – a sign of friendship (John 13:26).

Jesus called him “friend” in Matthew 26:50 even as Judas betrayed him.

God’s faithfulness demanded that He continue to reach out to Judas.

In Jeremiah 31:3, God said: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

In 2 Peter 3:9: “he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

In John 3:16, Jesus said: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The word “whoever” must include everyone. None of us (including Judas) ever get out of range of God’s love and His tender beckoning. Jesus proved on the cross that He never gives up on us, by saving the thief who was dying beside Him – and like all of us, that thief deserved hell (Luke 23:43).

Reflection: Do we value the high price Jesus paid, just so that we could have an opportunity to be cleansed from our sins, and to spend eternity in endless adventure and joy with Him? He is worth more than we can ever imagine.