How does John 6:71 highlight Judas's role in God's redemptive plan? Setting the Scene in John 6 • After feeding the five thousand and teaching about the “bread of life,” Jesus watches many disciples walk away (John 6:66). • Verse 70: “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” • Verse 71 then clarifies: “He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who was going to betray Him.” The Surprising Emphasis on Judas • John interrupts the narrative to spotlight Judas months before the betrayal occurs. • Three identifiers heap weight on the moment: – “Judas” (his personal name) – “son of Simon Iscariot” (his family line) – “one of the Twelve” (his privileged rank) • By adding “who was going to betray Him,” John signals a certainty already woven into God’s plan, not a last-minute twist. Foreknowledge and Sovereignty • Jesus chose Judas fully aware of his future sin (John 13:18; John 17:12). • Acts 2:23 affirms the same pattern: “He was delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.” • Divine foreknowledge does not absolve Judas of responsibility; it shows God’s rule even over human rebellion. Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy • Psalm 41:9: “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” • Zechariah 11:12-13 foretells the thirty pieces of silver. • John 6:71 quietly anchors these prophecies long before the upper-room scene, proving Scripture’s accuracy. Catalyst for the Cross • Judas’s treachery moves events from private ministry to public arrest (Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:47-48). • Without the betrayal, the timeline leading to Calvary would differ, yet redemption required Christ’s death at Passover (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). • God turns human evil into the doorway for the world’s salvation—what Joseph described generations earlier: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). Warning and Encouragement for Believers • Proximity to Jesus does not equal faith; Judas heard every sermon. • Persistent unbelief can coexist with religious activity—sobering but true. • Yet God’s redemptive plan cannot be derailed; even betrayal serves His purpose, giving believers confidence in His unshakeable sovereignty (Romans 8:28). Summary Takeaways • John 6:71 establishes Judas as a known element in God’s plan, underscoring divine foreknowledge. • The verse ties New Testament events to Old Testament prophecy, proving Scripture’s unity. • Judas’s role, while tragic, became the human hinge on which the door of redemption swung open, leading to the cross and the resurrection that secures salvation for all who believe. |
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