Jesus and His VDPs

Judas may be the most obvious VDP to Jesus. He got disappointed with Jesus' teachings (John 6:60-64), he criticized about people loving Jesus too much (John 12:3-5), he even stole money from the group (12:6)... While some people questioned about God's love towards Judas because it seems that he was like a scapegoat（代罪羔羊）in God's plan of salvation, I would like to invite you to ponder about the followings:

1. Jesus knew about Judas' betrayal long beforehand;
2. Jesus washed Judas' feet after the last supper, and gave His commandment on love;
3. Jesus allowed Judas to come close to him -- betraying Him with a kiss. Yes, that close.

And when Judas came to that close, Jesus asked, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:48) He ended His last words to Judas with a question, still challenging him for repentance until the last moment. Jesus did not give up this VDP of His.

Peter may be another VDP of Jesus. He denied his Lord for 3 times during those most critical moments in Jesus' life. Peter got so guilty about it and thought he could never recover or regain the Lord's trust or forgiveness. He went back to being a fisherman, which might be the only thing he could rediscover his self-significance after such trauma.

But Jesus came to his VDP with questions again. While everybody thought He was going to blame Peter about his denial (John 21:12), our Lord asked him the same questions for 3 times (John 21:15, 16, 17). 3 challenges to 3 denials. And there Peter was restored from a man of serious guilt to a man full of the Holy Spirit, leading the apostles to witness for the Lord with power from then on until his last moment (John 21:19). Again, Jesus did not give up on his VDP, and this VDP was transformed into a VIP and even VRP to many. And that power of transformation is Jesus' love.

2 VDPs, 2 response to Jesus, and 2 endings. But 1 thing remains the same: Jesus did not give up on His VDPs, neither will He today or tomorrow.