Betrayal and the Plan of God

For Jesus' enemies to overcome Him, they needed His friends. Have you ever thought of that?

They needed one, whom Matthew 24 clearly describes as "one of the twelve" to betray Him. What a sting to that phrase. "One of the twelve." Judas is not identified by name. He is described as belonging to the Lord's trusted inner circle

But Judas' actions were not the only betrayal. The other disciples abandon Him, refuse to stand with Him, will not identify with Him. They discard Him.

The amazing thing is that He knew that they would do this to Him, that their joining the ranks of His persecutors would be the means by which His enemies (and His "friends") would be reconciled to the Father and God's purposes accomplished. This is not to absolve or excuse His betrayers; the Bible refuses to do that.

But who would have thought that God would work this way?