Judas Without Excuse

With divine patience, Jesus allowed this erring man to continue with Him, even while giving him evidence that He read his heart like an open book. He presented before him the highest incentives for doing right. But Judas cherished evil desires, revengeful passions, and dark and sullen thoughts until Satan had full control.HH 132.4

If Judas had been willing to serve like Christ, he could have been among the greatest of the apostles. But he chose his own selfish ambitions, unfitting himself for the work God would have given him to do.HH 132.5

All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them. John and his brother were called the “Sons of Thunder.” Any disrespect or contempt shown to Jesus made them angry. Evil temper, revenge, criticism, were all in John, the beloved disciple. But day by day he saw the tenderness and self-restraint of Jesus and heard His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to the divine influence and learned to wear the yoke of Christ.HH 132.6

Jesus corrected and cautioned His disciples, but John and the others did not leave Him. They continued to the end to share His trials and to learn the lessons of His life. By beholding Christ, they became transformed in character.HH 132.7

The apostles differed widely in habits and character. There was the tax collector, Levi-Matthew; the fiery zealot Simon; generous, impulsive Peter; mean-spirited Judas; Thomas, truehearted, but timid and fearful; Philip, inclined to doubt; the ambitious, outspoken sons of Zebedee, with their fellow apostles. Jesus brought them together, all with inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil. But in Christ, they would learn to become one in faith, in doctrine, in spirit. They would have their differences of opinion, but while Christ was abiding in the heart, there could be no discord. The Master’s lessons would lead them to harmonize all differences, till the disciples would be of one mind and one judgment. Christ is the great Center, and they would approach one another more and more as they approached the center.HH 132.8