While Jesus was preparing the disciples for their ordination, one who had not been summoned urged his presence among them. It was Judas Iscariot, a man who professed to be a follower of Christ. He now came forward, soliciting a place in this inner circle of disciples. With great earnestness and apparent sincerity he declared, "Master, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest." Jesus neither repulsed nor welcomed him, but uttered only the mournful words: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man 294 hath not where to lay His head." Matt. 8:19, 20. Judas believed Jesus to be the Messiah; and by joining the apostles, he hoped to secure a high position in the new kingdom. This hope Jesus designed to cut off by the statement of His poverty.

Medens Jesus forberedte disciplene til deres indvielse, var der en, som ikke var kaldet, der indtrængende anmodede om at få en plads iblandt dem. Det var Judas Iskariot, en mand, der foregav at være Jesu discipel. Nu trådte han frem og bad om at måtte være med i disciplenes inderkreds. Med stor alvor og tilsyneladende oprigtighed erklærede han: "Mester, jeg vil følge dig, hvor du end går hen." Jesus hverken afviste ham eller bød ham velkommen, men sagde blot disse sorgfulde ord: "Ræve har huler og himmelens fugle reder; men Menneskesønnen har ikke det sted, hvor han kan lægge sit hoved til hvile." Matt. 8,19-20. Judas troede på, at Jesus var Messias, og han håbede ved at slutte sig til apostlene at kunne sikre sig en høj stilling i det kommende rige. Det var Jesu hensigt at fratage ham dette håb ved at tilkendegive sin fattigdom.