At their final Passover supper, Jesus declared, “But look, the hand of the one betraying me as at the table with me.” (Luke 22:21). Everyone at the table looked around to see who it was, but we know that Judas was the guilty party. “Woe to that man,” Jesus warned. So, yes, Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him.
Why not stop Judas? Or call him out in front of the others so they could punish him or prevent him somehow? For one thing, as noted above, Jesus had to die. Judas’ betrayal helped to set Christ’s feet along his last journey, carrying his own cross to Calvary.
But also, think about the rest of Jesus’ ministry: he never prevented anyone from doing anything, nor did he compel anyone to do something. He called, and people answered – or they did not. Many turned away. Many went back to their sins. Followers of Jesus are free to do what they like. Paul puts it this way: “‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is beneficial.” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Jesus did not prevent those around him from satisfying greed, lust, anger, etc. He did, however, offer them a better way and taught them about the rewards of discipleship vs. the consequences of rebellion. For Jesus, there was nothing better than doing the Father’s will. He lived what the Psalmist wrote: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
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