60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
Read John 6:60-71 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
While some of the other gospel writers’ hint at a fascinating idea, one of the first places we see this is within John’s gospel, and this idea happens to be shared in greatest detail in John’s gospel too. This idea is found in a place and time where we might least expect it to be: during a mass exodus of Jesus’ followers.
After having drawn a huge crowd who was intent on following Jesus wherever He went, Jesus decides to give this crowd a huge challenge, to help separate those who were true believers from those who were simply following the popular Teacher of the time. Jesus wanted true followers and not simply fair-weather friends.
While the crowd was packing up and leaving, John draws us to two statements Jesus makes that are both very insightful. The first is among the last things Jesus says before the crowd left: “Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” (v. 64a)
John adds a side-note to this statement by saying, “For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.” (v. 64b)
John points us to the truth that Jesus was not surprised by Judas’ betrayal. Even early on in His ministry, Jesus knew exactly who believed, who didn’t believe, and who would ultimately betray Him.
If this statement wasn’t enough, after Peter’s response to Jesus’ question, Jesus replied by emphasizing this same idea. He says, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (v. 70)
Again, John throws the side-note in here by saying “(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)” (v. 71)
Here nearer the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, John draws our focus onto what Jesus was saying. While the twelve disciples were ultimately surprised to learn who the betrayer would be, Jesus knew from the very beginning.
This tells me something interesting about Jesus’ and God’s character. Jesus was not afraid to associate with the person who would ultimately betray Him. I believe Judas Iscariot was allowed to be a part of the twelve disciples because Jesus wanted to do everything He could to help Judas change and become the man God created Him to be.
God didn’t create Judas to be the traitor. Instead Judas hardened his heart to Jesus, and chose that path on his own. God is not afraid to reach out to those who are opposed to Him. Jesus came into a world full of sin and people who were actively working against Him. Jesus came to show God’s love to people who would ultimately reject His love. Most of the crowd left; Judas betrayed; but Jesus still came and loved us like God the Father intended.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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