The Kiss of Judas

 Luke 22:47-53

“47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” 49 When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50 Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”

Judas intended to betray Christ with a kiss.  In Jesus’ time, a kiss between friends was a common sign of greeting, respect, honor and brotherly love.  

Judas hid his true feelings behind the hypocritical kiss.  To betray another person with a kiss meant just the opposite; disrespect, dishonor, and hatred.

We, like Judas, betray Jesus each day with expressions of love that we do not mean, kind words that do not come from our hearts, and promises of prayers that we do not keep.

Judas led a band of people brandishing swords and clubs to arrest Jesus.  But it was the kiss of Judas that would sting hardest long after that fateful night.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)