Can apparently include devils. This wasn’t beyond Jesus’ imagination as he was building his own team.
“Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
John 7:70
Jesus was, of course, speaking of Judas. But it would be another 11 chapters before what he meant by “devil” really became clear. In Judas’ case, it meant “betrayer.” It can also mean “false accuser” or “slanderer.”
Why willingly work someone who you know is going to betray you, or falsely accuse you, or slander you? Seems like something was overlooked in the hiring process. Most of us probably would have advised Jesus to vet his closest disciples a bit more thoroughly. This is not how winning teams are built.
But maybe Jesus has a different definition of a winning team.
Maybe a winning team is one that gives people chance after chance after chance. Maybe a winning team is one that isn’t surprised at its’ members’ weaknesses and sins. Maybe a winning team is one that holds out hope that even its’ most devilish members can choose a different path. Maybe a winning team is one that is patient, even to the point of betrayal, or false accusation, or slander—even to the point of death.
Sure, some will say that Jesus only chose Judas because he knew he needed someone to betray him in order to blah, blah, blah. Maybe. But don’t skip to the end and miss the nuances of the plot. Judas wasn’t just the means to fulfilling some prophetic end. Even if that’s true, it’s only part of Judas’ story. The other part of his story is that Jesus chose him and included him. He was taught, empowered, and sent out by Jesus to do the same ministry as all of the other disciples. For years.
Judas, a “devil,” was still part of the team—at least until he chose to leave of his own volition. Which gives hope for the rest of us, that even on our worst days, on our most devilish days, that Jesus isn’t going to kick us off the team.
