Too late to turn back the hand of time. Could he have avoided this?

Know Your Role and Shut Your Mouth (Part 1): Judas Iscariots’ Role

Bible Texts (Concordant Version of the Old Testament and Concordant Literal New Testament with keywords Concordance-CLNT

Text: Isaiah 46:9-10; Matthew 26:14-16 and John 13:21-31;

 

Isaiah 46:9-10

9 Remember the former things from the eon, For I am El, and there is no other! Elohim! and no other like Me!
10 Telling from the beginning, the hereafter, And from aforetime what has not yet been done, Saying, All My counsel, it shall be confirmed, And all My desire shall I do;

 

John 13:26-31

26 Jesus, then, is answering and saying, "He it is to whom I, dipping in the morsel, shall be handing it." Dipping in the morsel, then, He is taking it and giving it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
27 And after the morsel, then, Satan entered into that man. Jesus, then, is saying to him, "What you are doing, do more quickly."
28 Now no one of those lying back at table knew to what purpose He said this to him.
29 For some supposed, since Judas had the coffer, that Jesus is saying to him, "Buy what we have need of for the festival," or, that he may be giving something to the poor.
30 Getting the morsel, then, that man came out straightway. Now it was night.
31 When, then, he came out, Jesus is saying, "Now is the Son of Mankind glorified, and God is glorified in Him.

 

Matthew 26:14-16

14 Then one of the twelve who is termed Judas Iscariot, having gone to the chief priests, said, "What are you willing to give me, and I will be giving Him up to you?"

15 Now they weigh for him thirty pieces of silver.

16 And thenceforth he sought an opportunity that he may be giving Him up.

 

Acts 1:15-18

15 And in these days Peter, rising in the midst of the brethren, (besides there was a throng in the same place of about a hundred and twenty names)
16 said, "Men! Brethren! Fulfilled must be the scripture in which the holy spirit said before through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who becomes the guide of those apprehending Jesus,
17 seeing that he was numbered among us, and chanced upon the allotment of this dispensation."
18 (This man, indeed, then, acquires a freehold with the wages of injustice, and coming to fall prone, ruptures in the middle, and all his intestines were poured out.

Know Your Role: What Wrestling Taught Me About Divine Purpose

If you’ve ever watched World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), you probably remember the electrifying presence of Dwayne Johnson—better known as The Rock. One of his most iconic lines? “Know your role and shut your mouth.”

It’s a phrase that drew laughs, cheers, and sometimes boos. But beneath the entertainment, there’s an idea worth thinking about.

Most fans already know that professional wrestling is scripted. The drama, the rivalries, even the outcomes—planned in advance. Yet somehow, it still feels real when you watch it unfold. Each wrestler plays a part, following a storyline designed to reach a specific conclusion. The Rock’s famous line, in a sense, was a reminder to stay aligned with that script.

That idea—of roles, purpose, and a predetermined outcome—led me to reflect on something far deeper: the events leading up to the crucifixion of Yeshua.

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The God Who Declares the End from the Beginning

In the book of Isaiah, we encounter a powerful statement about Yahweh’s nature: He declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9–10). This isn’t just about foresight—it’s about authority. Yahweh doesn’t merely predict the future; He determines it. His plans unfold according to His will, not human speculation or chance.

As echoed in Ephesians 1:11, everything operates according to the counsel of His will. This means God is neither reacting to events nor adjusting plans on the fly. He is sovereign over the entire narrative.

And since Yeshua declares, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), He operates with that same divine authority and awareness.

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A Script Unfolding: The Final Days of Yeshua

In the days leading up to His crucifixion, we see this divine plan in motion. During the Passover meal—often called the Last Supper—Yeshua made a startling revelation.

In John 13:21–31, He identifies Judas Iscariot as the one who would betray Him. More than that, He gives Judas permission: “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

That moment is striking. Judas doesn’t act independently; he acts within a framework already known—and allowed—by Yeshua.

Why?

Because the scriptures had to be fulfilled.

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The Role of Judas: Tragedy or Necessity?

Prophecies like those in Isaiah 53, along with writings from Moses, David, and Daniel, pointed toward the suffering, death, and resurrection of Yeshua. These weren’t random events—they were part of a long-declared plan.

Judas Iscariot had a role in that plan.

It’s uncomfortable to think about. Couldn’t he have chosen differently? If free will alone determines everything, it’s hard to imagine Yeshua selecting someone He knew would betray Him. Judas had every opportunity to learn, to grow, to change. Yet he still fulfilled the role assigned within this larger narrative.

Even more puzzling—Yeshua entrusted him as the group’s treasurer, despite knowing his weaknesses.

Was that a mistake? The text suggests otherwise. Judas’s actions, though morally wrong, served a purpose within the unfolding plan. As the story tells it, even the betrayal—down to the thirty pieces of silver—aligned with what had already been written.

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Wrestling with the Bigger Picture

This raises difficult questions about human choice, responsibility, and divine purpose. If Yahweh’s will is ultimately fulfilled, where does that leave individual agency?

The imagery of clay and the potter (Romans 9) comes to mind—some formed for honor, others for dishonor, yet all shaped by the same hands.

Judas’s end was tragic. There’s no denying that. But if his actions were part of a larger design, it challenges us to reconsider how we view blame and destiny.

This isn’t about excusing wrongdoing. Rather, it’s about recognizing that the full scope of Yahweh’s plan may extend beyond what we can easily understand.

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Final Thoughts

The Rock’s famous command—“Know your role”—was meant for entertainment. But it hints at something profound when viewed through a different lens.

What if life, in some ways, unfolds according to a script we don’t fully see?

What if the events that seem chaotic or unjust are part of a larger, purposeful design?

These are not easy questions. But they invite us to reflect more deeply on faith, purpose, and the nature of divine sovereignty.

Next time, we’ll explore another figure in the scriptures whose role raises just as many questions.

Grace and peace.