October 26, 2011

Painting No. 10

The betrayal by Judas was prophesied in the Old Testament as indicated by the following Psalm.
Psalm 41:9 - Even my close friend, someone I trusted,one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

 

Matthew 26: 36-48
36	Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37	He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38	Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39	Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40	Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.
41	“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42	He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43	When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
44	So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45	Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.
46	Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
47	While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48	Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”

The big questions about Judas’s betrayal are:

Question: Is Judas responsible for his act?

Answer: Yes. At the Last Supper (Matthew 26:24) Jesus said, “ But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Question: But at the beginning of that same verse (Matthew 26:24) Jesus also said,” The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him.” This looks like it was written, therefore it has to happen no matter what.

Answer: It is true that God knew about the betrayal of Judas. As a matter of fact, He knew about it before Judas was born. We have to remember that God is out of the realm of time and space. He knows every detail of what each one of us will be doing in the future. But we must not confuse between God knowing it and God doing it. God gave us a freewill that he will never alter. The freewill was given to Judas like any one of us. Judas chose to Betray Jesus, God knew it,which does also mean it was written, and that God could have stopped it. But, in this case He would have broken the covenant of freewill which He gave to us and this he will never do.

Question: This means that we must not believe in our destiny?

Answer: Our destiny depends on us to a certain extent, because we have no control over accidents, natural disasters, wars, or any other catastrophic uncontrolled events in the future, but everything we do willingly contributes to our destiny. God knows indeed about our destiny, but He does not interfere in our decisions. He gave us a freewill that He will always respect.