JESUS HAD KNOWN FROM THE BEGINNING / JOHN 6:64

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) John 6:64

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

Known from the Beginning: Choice, Grace, and the Warning of Judas

In John 6:64, we encounter a sobering reminder of Christ’s perfect divinity and the mystery of human free will: “For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.”

This phrase—”from the beginning”—holds a profound weight. Does it mean Jesus knew the trajectory of Judas’ character from the dawn of creation, or from the moment He called him to be a disciple? Either way, the truth remains unchanged: Jesus knew exactly who Judas was, yet He chose him anyway. He extended the same grace, the same power, and the same intimate fellowship to Judas as He did to the other eleven.

Judas was not a puppet trapped in a tragic script; he was a man who made a choice.

The Tragic Drift of a Trusted Friend

It is easy to look at Judas as a monster born for betrayal, but Scripture paints a much more complex picture. He is described as a close, trusted friend (Psalms 41:9; John 13:18). In the early days, Judas likely believed. He left his old life behind, walked the dusty roads of Galilee, and even cast out demons and healed the sick using the power Jesus freely gave to all the disciples (Matthew 10:1-15).

But somewhere along the line, a drift occurred. Perhaps Jesus didn’t fit the political or triumphant mold Judas expected. Disappointment curdled into greed, and greed opened a door to the enemy.

Judas’ downfall reminds us of three vital truths:

• The traitor was not predestined. While prophecy foretold that Jesus would be betrayed, Judas himself was not forced into this role. He chose it freely (Acts 1:25).
• Privilege does not guarantee perseverance. Walking in proximity to the miraculous, hearing the words of Christ firsthand, and being trusted with leadership do not automatically secure a person’s heart.
• The world offers a competing devotion. Judas allowed a friendship with the world—represented by thirty pieces of silver and personal ambition—to choke out his devotion to the Savior (James 4:4).

A Searing Warning for Modern Followers

Judas stands as a mirror and a warning for every believer today. We cannot ride the coattails of past spiritual experiences or rely on religious busywork to keep us faithful. The drift from devotion to betrayal rarely happens overnight; it begins with subtle compromises, hidden disappointments, and letting the cares of this world crowd out the lordship of Christ (Hebrews 10:29).

Jesus knows our hearts “from the beginning.” He sees the secret pull toward compromise within us, yet He still invites us to His table. The question is, will we yield to Him, or will we walk away?

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with humbled and sober hearts. We thank You that nothing in our lives catches You by surprise; You have known us from the very beginning. Lord, we ask that You search our hearts today. Reveal any hidden areas of disappointment, bitterness, or compromise where we have allowed the love of this world to crowd out our devotion to You.

Forgive us for the times we have drifted. Protect us from the deception of a casual faith, and anchor our souls firmly in Your truth. We pray for the grace to choose You daily, to guard our hearts against the enemy’s whispers, and to remain fiercely devoted to Your lordship until the end.

In Jesus’ holy name, we pray, Amen.

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

1. EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD / JOHN 6:54
2. THE FATHER … DRAWS HIM / JOHN 6:44
3. MY FATHER’S WILL / JOHN 6:40
4. I WILL NEVER DRIVE AWAY / JOHN 6:37
5. I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE / JOHN 6:35
6. DON’T BE AFRAID / JOHN 6:20
7. JESUS PRAYS ALONE / JOHN 6:15
8. THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND /JOHN 6:7
9. MIRACLES / JOHN 6:1-2
10. DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT HE WROTE / JOHN 5:47
11. ACCEPT PRAISE FROM ONE ANOTHER / JOHN 5:44
12. YOU DILIGENTLY STUDY / JOHN 5:39-40
13. YOU HAVE SENT JOHN / John 5:33
14. THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD – RISE TO LIVE – THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL / JOHN 5:29
15. HAS GRANTED THE SON TO HAVE LIFE IN HIMSELF / JOHN 5:26
16. HEARS … BELIEVES / JOHN 5:24
17. MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD / JOHN 5:18-24
18. PERSECUTED HIM / JOHN 5:16
19. STOP SINNING / JOHN 5:14
20. THE MAN WAS CURED / JOHN 5:9-10
21. THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS / JOHN 5:5
22. SIGNS AND WONDERS / JOHN 4:48
23. CROP FOR ETERNAL LIFE / JOHN 4:36
24. LOOK AT THE FIELDS / JOHN 4:35
25. SURPRISED TO FIND HIM TALKING WITH A WOMAN / JOHN 4:27
26. TRUTH / JOHN 4:24
27. WORSHIP … IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH / JOHN 4:23-24
28. SAMARITANS WORSHIP WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW / JOHN 4:22
29. WATER … ETERNAL LIFE / JOHN 4:14
30. SAMARITAN WOMAN / JOHN 4:7
31. WHOEVER REJECTS / JOHN 3:36
32. GIVES THE SPIRIT WITHOUT LIMIT / JOHN 3:34
33. LOVED DARKNESS INSTEAD OF LIGHT / JOHN 3:19
34. GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD /JOHN 3:16
35. JUST AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SNAKE / JOHN 3:14-15
36. THE WIND … THE SPIRIT / JOHN 3:8
37. BORN OF WATER / JOHN 3:5
38. BORN AGAIN / JOHN 3:3
39. TEMPLE / JOHN 2:19
40. DROVE ALL FROM THE TEMPLE AREA / JOHN 2:15
41. SIGNS / JOHN 2:11
42. CHOICE WINE – HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK / JOHN 2:10
43. WINE – THEY HAVE NO MORE WINE / JOHN 2:3
44. YOU SHALL SEE HEAVEN OPEN / JOHN 1:51
45. CEPHAS … PETER / JOHN 1:42
46. THE FIRST THING ANDREW DID / JOHN 1:41
47. THE TENTH HOUR /JOHN 1:39
48. WILL BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / JOHN 1:33
49. LAMB OF GOD / JOHN 1:29
50. PHARISEES / JOHN 1:24
51. GRACE AND TRUTH / JOHN 1:17
52. THE WORD BECAME FLESH / JOHN 1:14
53. BORN NOT OF … HUMAN DECISION / JOHN 1:13
54. RECEIVED … BELIEVED / JOHN 1:12
55. THE WORLD DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM / JOHN 1:10
56. GIVES LIGHT TO EVERY MAN / JOHN 1:9
57. HIS NAME WAS JOHN / JOHN 1:6
58. LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS / JOHN 1:5
59. LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN / JOHN 1:4
60. WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING / JOHN 1:2
61. THE WORD / JOHN 1:1
62. CREWS N AWAY: ANCHORED IN GRACE

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace