COMING BACK TO JUDAS; But, you say, are you sure that Judas actually had the power to cast out devils in the Name of the Lord? Definitely. Turn to Matthew 10:1-8 where it says, "And when he had called upon him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedes, and John his brother; Phillip; and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Here we see that Jesus gave Judas power and commissioned him to heal the sick and cast out devils together with the other disciples. Also in Luke 9:1 we read, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases." In Luke 9:6 the Scripture says, "And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere."" Praise the Lord! Also in Mark 6:7 the Sacred record says, "And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits."

Jesus gave His twelve disciples (Judas included) power over unclean spirits and to heal diseases and sicknesses, then he commissioned them and sent them out. In Mark 6:12-13 we see what happened, "And they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." Here we have conclusive proof that Judas Iscariot was not "a devil from the beginning" but rather that he was a believer and follower of Jesus Christ who had received power from Jesus Himself to heal the sick and cast out devils and preach repentance, which he did with much success. Judas was a trusted disciple who was tempted and gave in to the temptation of greed, covetousness and the love of money, which trapped him and pierced him through. (I Timothy 6:10) "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." The devil entered into him because of his sin. He then became a tool in the hand of Satan, betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ, realized his mistake (but did not ask Christ for forgiveness), hung himself and went to Hell. (Acts 1:25)

The following scripture fits his picture perfectly. Matthew 7:22 says, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Judas Iscariot was a man of God and was used of God in doing these great miracles, yet he went Lost. Oh how terrible, but yet how true. How we need to live close to God and not backslide or compromise with the world.

The Scriptures bear me out further on this. In Ezekiel 16:21-24 we read, "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? said the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committed iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die."

Here God says if a wicked man will repent of his sins and forsake them, God will not remember his sins but will forgive them and he will be saved; however, if a righteous man (who already had received God’s forgiveness and blessing) turns from his righteousness, forsakes God and does wickedly - God says He will forget all the good and righteous deeds this man has done and he will stand before God as a sinner. As God forgives the sinner when he repents and forgets his sin (Hebrews 10:17), (Jeremiah 31:34), so God also forgets the righteousness that the righteous man has done - he remembers them no more after he has turned from God! When that man stands before God for judgment, God will have forgotten the past righteousness the man has done, and he will stand before God as a complete stranger to the Lord. No wonder Jesus said, "The Lord will say I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:22)

Further, on the subject of Jesus’ words concerning Judas, let us consider one more example in the Holy Scriptures: Here Jesus speaks to Peter in a rebuke, "But He (Jesus) turned and said unto Peter, get thee behind me Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Matthew 16:23) Jesus definitely called Peter "Satan." Was Peter "Satan", or was he Peter? No one would dare to say that Peter was not a saved man whom God used to bring many to the saving and healing knowledge of our Lord Jesus - Peter had just received the revelation from God that every sinner must make if he is saved, when he confessed to Jesus and said, "Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16) Just a little further we find Jesus rebuking Peter for a statement he made which was against God’s plan, purpose and will, but certainly quite a natural thought. WHAT WAS IT? Was Peter "Satan" or was he Peter? It was the spirit of Satan that had motivated Peter to make the statement which was against God’s will and plan. The same words are used in Mark 8:33. The explanation comes in Luke 9:55. "But he turned and rebuked them and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of."

So now you can see how absolutely ridiculous is the claim that Judas was a devil from the beginning. Thank God for His word! Oh let us take a lesson from the life of the man who knew God’s power but chose rather the way of the flesh, Judas was a man who gambled with his soul and lost.