Welcome to Day 16 of Journey to the Cross, a 40-day devotional leading to Easter. I must begin by apologizing for being late with this post. I have been under the weather for the past several days and have failed to post. However, we will get caught up before we get to Easter, so don’t worry about that! In today’s lesson, we look at someone the world may see as a miscalculation or mistake in Jesus’s traveling companions. Our passage of study is Matthew 26:17-25.

On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
“Go into the city to a certain man,” he said, “and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your place with my disciples.’ ” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the Twelve. While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed, each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?”
He replied, “The one who dipped his hand with me in the bowl—he will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”
Judas, his betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”
“You have said it,” he told him.

Matthew 26:17-25 CSB

“I’m going to turn this car around if you don’t start behaving!” I can’t count the number of times I heard that growing up, nor the number of times I have said it since I’ve had children. Most people do not willingly take disruptive, abrasive, or problematic people with them on a trip. We normally choose those who travel with us quite carefully since we hope to enjoy their companionship along the way.

Yet Jesus chose Judas to accompany him on His journey to the cross. Judas was not an accidental addition. Jesus did not make a mistake or a miscalculation when He chose Judas. Rather, he chose Judas for a reason. Jesus chose Judas because He knew what He would do. He knew that Judas fit into the Father’s plan. Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him (John 6:64). In Judas, we have a clear example of how a person can be religious, hear the Word of God taught, witness genuine miracles, and for all appearances seem to be saved, and yet not be born again.

Jesus chose Judas to fulfill prophecy and because the plan of God required someone to betray the innocent Son of Man. However, none of this means that Judas and others who condemned and crucified Jesus were without fault. Judas Iscariot bore the responsibility for what he chose to do. Jesus said, “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” (Mark 14:21). Judas was chosen with the foreknowledge of God that he would betray Jesus. Rather than stop God’s plan for salvation, his betrayal advanced it.

God does not make mistakes. You are not an accidental follower of Jesus. It’s no mistake or miscalculation. Jesus intentionally has invited you to live with him in the kingdom of God and to belong to the family of God. God has a purpose and a place in His kingdom for you. Good news! Since Judas was the betrayer, that means you aren’t. Sometimes you may feel like it, especially when you sin against God. But we all sin and fall short (Romans 3:23), and God is faithful to forgive us our sins when we confess them (1 John 1:9). So although at times you may be disruptive, abrasive, and problematic, the Lord is not going to change His mind and turn the car around. God can, and He does, use you for His good purposes in Christ Jesus.

As you pray today, say something like: “Forgive me, Lord, when I am not the ideal traveling companion for those who journey beside me. Use me, O God, for Your good purposes.”

Normally I would close here, but instead let’s reflect. People were central to Christ’s life as He journeyed to the cross. Jesus went out of His way to welcome people – all kinds of people. Today make a list of the people God regularly puts in your path. Does someone on your list need an encouraging word? Is there someone in need of Christ’s forgiveness? Will you share it with them? What other needs might you be called to meet?

Thank you for joining me for Day 16. Once again, I apologize for the tardiness on it. Join me tomorrow as we adjust from people along the way to places along the path.