God knew from the beginning
By Ivan Ho. 17 April 2017
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
John 6:63-65 NKJV
Note that it weren’t the pagans who sent Jesus to the cross. But it was the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, the high priest who persecuted and sentenced Jesus to death penalty even though they found no sin in Him. These religious people knew and studied the scriptures but could not get the revelation of who Jesus was.
Jesus knew who would betray Him
Then there was Judas who walked closely with Jesus for 3 1/2 years, who sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver! Right from the beginning God knew Judas Iscariot would betray him.
God knew from the beginning that Judas would seat right next to Jesus, share meals with Him, hear Jesus speak, see Jesus heal the sick, witness the woman pouring fragrant oil on Jesus and so on. Judas was in the inner circle right where all the actions surrounding Jesus took place, but his heart was divided.
Have you heard preachers say: “You are here today for a purpose. God knew you are sitting here even before you were born!” They are right: God knew in the beginning everything, but not everyone amongst us are godly. Nothing would surprise God, nothing happens unless God allows it. But that does not mean that everyone with us are on God’s side. The devil can also place people in our life with the permission of God. Mind you, it was the Holy Spirit who led Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
John 6:70-71 NKJV
God uses evil for good
What would it be like to realise that a devil is walking with you, being part of the core group? Judas did not have a pair of horns on his head, just a normal guy amongst the apostles, without any noticeable warnings.
Jesus did not all of a sudden get the revelation that Judas was actually a double agent and screamed: “Oh no you devil, get out of here!” The Lord knew who Judas was in the beginning.
Jesus did not remove Judas from the group, for the traitorous man was part of God’s sovereign plan, being chosen for a purpose to be one of the twelve apostles. In betraying Jesus, Judas became one of the key figures who set up Jesus to the cross. Nevertheless, what the devil meant for evil, God used it for good, for Jesus was destined to die on the cross for our sins!
If Jesus did not die on the cross, there would be no atonement our sins. If Jesus did not die, there would be no resurrection. If Jesus was not resurrected, we would also not be raised from the dead. There would be no Eternal Life for man, if Jesus was not resurrected.
Thank God we are now serving the risen Lord, the King of all kings, and through Jesus we will triumph over the power of sins, sickness and death over our lives!
Sometimes, we have to thank God for the Judases in our lives who could be the religious people attending church with us regularly. In fact, only the spirit of discernment will help us identify them. However, if we can’t get rid of them, maybe God allows them to be with us for a reason, in order to fulfill His higher purpose! Sometimes they are there in our lives to reveal what’s in our hearts, especially when we have been betrayed.
God knew who do not believe
“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
John 6:64-66 NKJV
The word that Jesus speaks is Spirit and life, yet not everyone would believe Him. God knew from the beginning who do not believe. God did not program anyone to reject Him but God knew who the unbelievers are in the beginning.
We think that we could make someone to become believers. We think that a person’s salvation is the result of our prayers. But the Bible tells us that no one can come to Jesus unless it has been granted by the heavenly Father. God knew from the beginning who do not believe and who believe Him.
God knew who believe
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 6:67-69 NKJV
Everyone who chooses to believe in Jesus and receive the words of eternal life is known by God in the beginning, even before he or she is born.
As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
Romans 9:13-18 NKJV
Not only does God know from the beginning who the believers are, He calls those whom He predestines to fulfill His plan. We are predestined in the beginning to fulfill God’s kingdom plan on planet earth. Your job and mine is to find out what God’s sovereign will is and align ourselves with it!
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Romans 8:29-30 NKJV