Why Judas? Just why?

A year or two ago, this topic captured my thoughts and I've been trying to come to grips with this ever since.

Jesus had 12 disciples. He picked all of them. One of them was Judas Iscariot.
This should be no spoiler, but Judas betrayed Jesus by turning Jesus in to the officials and that eventually lead to His crucifixion.

So have you also ever wondered why Jesus would pick Judas in the first place, Jesus being God and knowing all things?
Judas wasn't even one of the many disciples (often 70-80) that followed Jesus, but he was one of the closer bunch, the Twelve. This meant that Judas lived, ate, talked, travelled, etc. with Christ for 3 consecutive years.
That is 3 full years, 36 months, 156 weeks, 1095 days, or countless hours of Jesus pouring and investing into the lives of these 12 men, among whom was Judas.
Why would you give so much when you know that this guy is a lost cause? How could anyone live with, dine with, and make family someone who they knew will stab them in the back later on? Why would you teach them truth you know for sure that they will reject (Jesus is God, so He knew). And why would you let the other disciples put up with him if he won't carry on Christ's work with them? Why would you do all this? Why would Jesus pick Judas in the first place?
Just why?

What's more intriguing (or disturbing) is that Jesus had placed Judas as the group's financial officer. Judas was in charge of the money. Jesus knew his heart. Jesus knew that he wasn't the most honest guy around. Jesus knew that he would, at times, take some of the money for himself. Jesus knew that he would make excuses about giving to the poor to pocket a few funds here and there.
Why would you place such a person in charge of your whole group's finances? Why would you even trust such a person?

On and on and on and on...
We can keep asking questions as to why Jesus would pick Judas; why Jesus would love Him; why He would show him so much grace.

This is not to say that we should be unwise with our decisions, be irresponsible with our resources, time, and people we've been entrusted, or the like.

The remarkable lesson here is that Jesus loved unconditionally.
Jesus gave Judas much more than he deserved. He showed Judas immeasurable grace.
And Jesus showed Judas undeniable value and made him one of His own.

How many of us would do such a thing? What about the Judas figures in our life?
When God calls us to love them, do we question God and ask,

"I'll love them all...but why Judas? Just why?"

Jesus did. And God has given us His Spirit. So will we love as He did?

Oh and...we betray Jesus like Judas did too pretty often. So the next time you see another "Judas," cut them some slack and love them like Jesus did.