24/05/13

Judas

Luke 6:16 - And Judas [the brother] of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.


In the Bible there are almost 9 Judas, 5 in the Gospel alone. Jesus was surrounded by 3 Judas, 2 were among His 12 chosen and one was His brother (son of Mary and Joseph).

Today's message talks of the 2 Judas who were the Apostles of Jesus one. The words [the brother] are not part of the scripture and added for readability in KJV. But they change the meaning of the scripture.

When we read the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew and in Luke, in Luke 'son of' is not written but just 'of' is written since in some cases the person was not blood son but a relationship like son, like in the case of Joseph and Heli. It is written Joseph of Heli. Joseph did not have two fathers in Matthew the name of his real father Jacob is written. Matthew writes Jacob begat Joseph specifying he was the offspring of Jacob while Luke writes Joseph of Heli stating they had a son and father relationship.

If goes into the list, there are case where the grandfather adopts the grandson listed in the genealogy. Heli was the father-in-law of Joseph, being Mary's father he was a father to Joseph also, that is how the Bible sees marriage and relationships in marriage.

Judas the Apostle may have been son of James or his son-in-law or even adopted, this scripture does not state anything much. The other Judas Iscariot was the son of Simon the leper and was from Carioth or Kerioth a city in Judah therefore named Judas Iscariot.

The 3rd Judas in the Gospels was the (step) brother of Jesus and brother of James, Joses and Simon (the brothers of Jesus). Both Judas also called Jude (the author of the last letter in the New Testament) and James (who was the first head of the Church of Jerusalem in the absence of the Apostles since some died and some had left Jerusalem) believed in Christ only around His crucifixion or after His resurrection. Judas was younger to Joses and Joses was younger to Jesus. They may have had sisters between them, Jesus was around 30+ years so that gives an idea of Judas' age, James may have been younger than him, for people called James the brother of Jesus as James the little (there were also other James along with Jesus therefore the tagging).

Out of the 9 Judas only one failed terribly and lost. He did not get lost just because he was thief and had hardened his heart to the teachings of Jesus. He was lost because even though he did wrong by delivering Jesus for a sum of money, he failed to repent and come to Jesus for forgiveness. He was sad for his wrong but chose to give up his life rather than ask forgiveness of Jesus.

Today's message is telling us our earthly name is not what God records in the book of life. The name humans give us is not the name God knows us by. We may be called a fool by people of this world or even given earthly names that may sound foolish and not liked by us. God is saying He knows us by our spiritual name which is unique to us. We may be named John and there may be 1million Johns worldwide but still our name will be unique in the Book of Life, that is if we are believing in Jesus Christ and are His disciples, walking in His Word. Even if our name is Judas, Hitler or anything, God knows us by our true unique name.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we are born in a family on earth and given a name here on earth for a reason and that reason is limited to our earthly lives only. Our spiritual name and spiritual family is not limited to our earthly lives but our eternal lives. You God are the Head of our family and we are one in You. We pray Lord we are set back or disheartened by what people call us but remember You alone know us and how unique we are...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Matthew 1:16 - And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Luke 3:23 - And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was of Heli,

John 12:1-6
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Matthew 26:6-7
6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

Matthew 27:56 - Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

Luke 6:16 - And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Acts 1:13 - And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

Psalms 147:4 - He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

Hosea 2:17 - For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.

Revelation 3:5 - He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)