Judas Iscariot: was it in God’s original plan for Judas life, to be used to betray Jesus?

[Timberly]

The Gospels tells us that Jesus knew of a secreted betrayer amongst His disciples, yet He did not expose or attempt to prevent it. Jesus knew that Mount Calvary was God’s ultimate plan. Do you think that Judas was “hand picked” by God for this “mission?” Please explain your answer.

[Jonathan Poland]

Good question Timberly.
This is a very difficult question for many people.
I remember one time having a discussion with a Christian friend who was very emotional over this topic. It seems to me that our tendency in this area is to err on one of two opposite sides. Either we say that God did choose Judas and ordain that he do this deed, and that therefore this means God was pleased with what Judas did and he was not responsible (he will be forgiven automatically), or else we say that Judas was entirely responsible for the evil thing he chose to do, and that therefore God did not choose him or ordain him to do it--that Judas used his free will and God couldn't do anything to stop him (i.e. Judas was going to do it anyway, so God just made the best of it).
I do not think that either of these is true. As I read Scripture, I get the impression that God did ordain Judas would do what he did, but that Judas at the same time was completely responsible for his choice and guilty for it. This is precisely what is so frightening about sin. Sin is rebellion against God's will. We think that when we sin we are getting away with it--otherwise we wouldn't do it. We think that God doesn't see it, or else that he won't, or can't, do anything about it. How frightening is it then when we realize that God was not only aware of our sin, but that he was ordaining our sin the whole time to serve his purpose despite us?
Also, God's intention and Judas' intention were different in this case. Judas was not a willing servant of God when he betrayed Jesus. He was not aware of what God was doing. Judas did what he did because of his covetousness (love of money), his pride, and his offense with Jesus for humiliating him in front of the other disciples (Matt 26:8-16; John 12:4-8; 13:2). God is able to use even these things for his glory.

[Linda]

Great answer!!

[Jerry McRae]

Hi Timberly. Wow! How did you end up choosing this FORUM QUESTION? I love it that EVERYBODY is choosing issues/topics that sit close to the heart...I just wonder why HARDLY ANYONE who starts the forum question includes, also, his/her take on the subject (smile). I am really impressed that ALL OF YOU GUYS/GIRLS have given the stories in the bible alot of thought/meditation (smile). I am a believer that: God created Good & Evil, God created ALL things for His Glory, even the WICKED for the day of EVIL, and God cursed a generation of "seed" at the beginning of REPRODUCTION, in the garden of eden...and called it "a generation of them that love me and a generation of them that hate me". We Humans don't know WHO...but the person/individual knows self's heart and God does, also...God said "No one knows the heart, BUT GOD. Judas died before JESUS DIED FOR THE SIN OF THE WORLD. Judas either died in the faith, as Abraham did, or Judas died in damnation, las ER did (Judah's firstborn son, who was wicked at heart). The good part is how ever one dies, IS HOW ON WILL BE RAISED [eternal life or eternal damnation]---our life in the Earth is our only chance...there is no reincarnation phase to do-it-over. God cursed Eve's womb...God cursed "seed" when He multiplied Eve's conception (Gen. 3). God never violated the Free-Will that was given to Man, by God. God knows who will return to Him as "SON" while we are yet in our mother's womb. I hate death...God placed "life" and "death" before us but only said: "CHOOSE LIFE". When Jesus stated: "...it would have been better for Judas to have a milstone wrapped around his neck and fall to the bottom of the sea" and also said: "do it quickly", there is implication that something far worse was in store for Judas than a splattered body at the bottom of a valley. I'm open for feedback, anyone...fire away (smile)

[Jerry McRae]

OOPS, everybody! I'm still trying to learn how to operate the functions on this chat-line...somehow my husband's name (Jerry McRae) got attached to my REPLY (Angela Mcrae) for this forum topic. Sorry! I'll have my husband show me what I did, wrong, when he gets in from work (smile).