Judas and Judas Iscariot - Luke 6:16

The beloved physician Luke wrote, “it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles. Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, …”, and in chapter six and verse fifteen of his book Luke shared how Jesus called, “Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot” where we read:

And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

The verse reads, “And Judas the brother of James, ...” Luke began with the words, “and Judas” whose name means “he shall be praised and was”“the brother of James” which means “who was Jame's brother who in the gospel of Mark was called Thaddeus, and in the gospel of Matthew Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus, and was the same who wrote the epistle of Jude”. Luke shared how Jesus also called “Jude” to be His disciple.

The verse continues, “... and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.” Luke added the words, “and Judas Iscariot” which means “he shall be praised and was from the men of Kerioth”, “which also was the traitor” or “who was even so and indeed the betrayer of Jesus”. Luke shared how Jesus also “chose” “Judas Iscariot” to be His disciple even though “Judas” would later “betray” Him.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn the final two names of the disciples Jesus “chose” to be with Him. First, was “Judas” or “Jude” who would later write the book of Jude, and finally Jesus “selected” His “betrayer” “Judas Iscariot” as well. When we consider all these men Jesus “elected” we may wonder about their qualifications for being His students, however, Jesus calls everyone, regardless of their backgrounds, to follow Him. Each of these men had their role in the Kingdom of God, and though “Judas Iscariot” would later “betray” Jesus to the “religious leaders”, Jesus knew He was an important person in fulfilling God's plan of salvation for man. Let all who consider Jesus' disciples realize and understand there is room at His “cross” for them too.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus, “stood in the plain”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".