I don't know about you but there is something that has always boggled my mind. Jesus knew from the start that He would be betrayed by Judas and yet He still chose Him. The fact that Jesus knew and He would still chose to bring him into His close group of followers, it blows my mind. He knew and yet He chose to look beyond the coming betrayal at the cross and eternity after. Jesus knew and yet He still chose love.
In Mark 2:16-17, we see Jesus eating with Matthew when we see this conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees.
"When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I love that! It's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Jesus came for the lost, broken, and bruised. He came for the sinners and He pours out His love on us freely. We could never begin to earn the grace and mercy He continuously pours out on us, and yet it is a gift that He continues to give.
Jesus knew all along, yet He continued to minister and show love and mercy to those outcast by the very people who where called to care for them. Jesus knew and He chose love.
"When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” - Matt. 26:20-24
Pay close attention to this next part, Jesus knew and He still continued to show His love.
"Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” - Matt. 26:25
Wow! Jesus knew all along and He still chose to him. I'm so thankful that Jesus still chose to pour out love and mercy on us continuously even though we will never begin to be able to deserve His love and mercy. Jesus knew and He chose to love and save us. He chose relationship with us and made a way for us to have relationship with Him.
Much Love friends,
Alianna