Seeing Judas Through the Lens of God

Today I was reading the book of John chapter 13: 21-27, the moment right before the Passover meal, when Jesus sat with His disciples knowing the cross was near.

One verse especially stopped me in my tracks. 

Jesus became troubled in spirit and revealed that one of His own disciples would betray Him. Peter motioned to John, the disciple leaning against Jesus, to ask who it would be. 

John asked Jesus directly, and Jesus answered:

“It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”

Then Jesus handed the bread to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

And then came the verse that deeply impacted me:

“As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.” John 13:27 

Jesus, fully aware of what was happening, looked at Judas and said:

“What you are about to do, do quickly.”

That verse hit me differently today.

Because Judas had to betray Jesus for prophecy to be fulfilled.

Long before this moment, Scripture foretold betrayal:

“Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” — Psalm 49:9 

Jesus Himself referenced this prophecy in the book of John before Judas betrayed Him.

Another prophecy pointed to the exact price of betrayal:

“So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’ — the handsome price at which they valued me!” — Zechariah 11:12–13 

This prophecy was fulfilled in the book of Matthew when Judas agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, and again in the book of Matthew when the money was returned and used to buy the potter’s field.

And through it all, the greater prophecy remained:

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:5

Judas’ betrayal became the beginning of the greatest miracle humanity would ever witness: Jesus taking our sins upon Himself, dying on the cross, and rising again in victory over death.

What looked like evil in the moment was still under the sovereignty of God.

The cross brought glory to the Father.

It brought healing, restoration, mercy, and salvation to us all.

And today, for the first time, I saw Judas through a different lens.

Not as a hero.

Not as innocent.

But as part of a painful assignment woven into a much larger purpose.

It was Judas who acted — but Satan entered him. The enemy was at work. Yet even then, God’s plan could not be stopped.

That realization humbled me.

Because most of us pray for beautiful assignments from God:

Assignments filled with blessing, favor, influence, and visible fruit.

But what if God asked us to walk through something painful?

Misunderstood?

Heavy?

A role no one would ever celebrate?

Would we still say yes?

Would we still trust Him if the assignment cost us everything?

I pray my answer would still be yes.

No matter the cost.

No matter how hard.

No matter whether people understood.

Because God sees the full picture when we only see a moment.

And through one devastating betrayal, Jesus changed our destiny forever.

Praise the Lord.

— Tricia