Steve and Perry: here is the letter i sent to Pastor X concerning Jesus knowing what it feels like to fail Dear Pastor X: We both know that getting people to understand the wonder and mystery of the incarnation is difficult at best, which is why I was delighted to see you tackle it in your message from December 14th of this year. But I was puzzled by something you said, I must have misunderstood you, and I need some help. Below is a transcript of your statement concerning Jesus feeling like a failure in regard to the actions of Judas: Jesus experienced what must have felt like failure. Just imagine: for three years youve spent time with this group, discipling a small group of men, and this one guy, Judas, who apparently you felt pretty good about because you made him treasurer...and youve poured three years of your life into Judas, and at the end of the day Judas rebels against your authority. He betrays you to the enemy. Then he goes out and takes his own life...he commits suicide. I bet for Jesus, he wrestled with the feeling of, Did I fail Judas, is there more I could have done? And then after being arrested, of course, all the disciples fled. They scattered like sheep. And Jesus was all alone, wondering if His three years was for naught.” The texts that came instantly to my mind were these: John 6:70-71 (ESV) 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him. John 13:21-27 (ESV) 21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” John 17:12 (ESV) 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. John 2:24-25 (ESV) 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. It sounded like you were saying that Jesus didnt expect Judas to betray him, but I dont think thats what you meant. Still, when I heard you say I bet for Jesus, he wrestled with the feeling of, Did I fail Judas, is there more I could have done? I have trouble reconciling that with the verses I cited above. To fail at something is to attempt something and not succeed. Jesus knew from the start that Judas would betray Him, and He knew that Scripture predicted it. Further, He knew Judas’ heart, and He gave Judas the bread at the Last Supper to indicate exactly who would betray Him; there was no surprise on Jesus’ part concerning Judas actions. I have no doubt that He had sorrow over Judas choice, for He referred to Judas as friend (Matt 26:50), but I see nowhere in Scripture either an explicit statement or an inferential notion that Jesus experienced any disappointment at misjudging Judas character. I think we can agree that he was grieved, but the word failure should never be applied to Jesus in any sense. And stating that Jesus might have wondered if His ministry were for naught in light of His being abandoned by the disciples; again, this sounds as if Jesus was unaware of what would happen. That idea cannot be supported by Scripture, and in fact, the Bible teaches just the opposite. I know you didn’t mean it the way it came across, but I don’t think I’m the only one who could have potentially misunderstood you. Please help me understand what you meant to say in light of what I heard.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 03:03:19 +0000
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