Turn to Jesus Christ for Salvation

�After traveling with Jesus for three years, listening to His teaching, witnessing His miracles and sharing His friendship, Judas Iscariot went to the Jewish Chief Priests and betrayed the Messiah for 30 pieces of silver. Judas evidently didn't hear what Jesus was saying, or He simply didn't believe his own eyes and ears; it's difficult to understand how someone could spend so much time with God in human flesh and yet be a thief (see ) and a traitor.

It was prophesied that this event would occur hundreds of years before Judas Iscariot was even born, and Jesus was well aware of His betrayer. But Jesus was also well aware of the mission He had to complete and so He allowed His companion to betray Him; in fact, He encouraged Him to do it quickly.

Obviously Judas did not understand his master or these prophecies:

Prophecy - "Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me." (Psalms 41:9)

Fulfillment - "When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, 'I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me--one who is eating with me.'" (Mark 14:17-18)

Prophecy - "I told them, 'If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.' 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 priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter." (Zechariah 11:12-13)

Fulfillment -

"Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty silver coins." (Matthew 26:14-15)

"When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 'I have sinned,' he said, 'for I have betrayed innocent blood.' 'What is that to us?' they replied. 'That's your responsibility.' So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself." (Matthew 27:3-5)

Prophecies -

"May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership." (Psalms 109:8)
"May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents." (Psalms 69:25)

Fulfillment - "and said, 'Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus-- he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.' (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

'For,' said Peter, 'it is written in the book of Psalms, May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it, and, May another take his place of leadership.

Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.'

So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, 'Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.' Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles." (Acts 1:16-26)

�Judas was the actual betrayer of Jesus, but he was not the only one who turned his back on Him. In fact all of Jesus' disciples, all of His followers and even all of the people He healed or touched in one way or another, abandoned Him when He was taken into custody and condemned. The prophets wrote that this would happen just as it did. Click 'Next' to see the prophecies regarding the abandonment of the Messiah.

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