Dear
@civic and
@brightfame52
Judas was among those that the Father gave to Jesus. Please read below how Jesus refers to Judas in his prayer (John 17:11,12)
Holy Father, through Your name keep those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are one. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. I have kept those whom You have given Me. And none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Judas is always mentioned as one of
them. Jesus was the shepherd for all of them: He says "I kept
them in Your name".
When Jesus explains why one of them was lost, He provides the reason:
"that the Scripture might be fulfilled".
So, the acts of Judas were within the sovereign plan of God. Jesus Himself had urged him
"What you have to do, do it quickly" (John 13:26,27)
You may say that the Bible says that the devil get into him when Jesus urged him to proceed. Let's remember than Satan is a role assigned to someone who acts in opposition to God, as an obstacle, an interference. It is a role, just being an advocate is a role. Peter was playing the role of Satan inappropriately, and that's why Jesus told Peter:
"Get behind Me, Satan!"
I believe that every apostle played a role, including Judas, and that Jesus was the Shepherd of all apostles, including Judas. God's purpose cannot be frustrated. Some day we will meet Judas in paradise and we will be puzzled, because we have always taught that he was the worst of sinners.
But Jesus was always interested in the worst of sinners.
What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?