But Jesus said unto him, Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? Luke 22:48
What would this scene have looked like if you or I were writing the script? Perhaps we would have Judas sneaking along behind the guards, peering out from behind them, and pointing to Jesus with a coward’s whisper, ‘That’s Him’. Or maybe we would have Judas stand and boldly point the finger at Jesus, urging the guards to seize Him. But the betrayal was not carried out by a sneaking coward nor a bold accuser, but by one who pretended to be a dear friend and close companion. That is what made the betrayal so painful to the Lord Jesus.
The betrayal by a false friend did not come as any surprise to the Lord Jesus, not should it come as any surprise to the students of the Scriptures. In his words describing the betrayal of his own friend and counsellor Ahithophel, David wrote, ‘Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me’ (Psalm 41:9). In Psalm 45, David wrote, ‘For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords’ (Psalm 55:12-14, 20-21). We can readily draw the link between Athithophel’s betrayal of David and Judas’ betrayal of the Lord Jesus. With an act that should have conveyed affection, Judas performed an act of treachery and greed. He was not the first to do so, and he will not be the last.
The betrayal by Judas occurred despite the tremendous advantages that this man had. For three years, he had spent time daily in the presence of Jesus Christ, beholding His miracles and listening to His words. He had shared in the apostolic ministry and the miraculous powers conferred on the disciples during those years of blessing. It is beyond our understanding how this man could have spent so much time and experienced so much evidence that Jesus was the Messiah and then betray Him. It is also beyond our understanding how he could do so with a kiss. This act of affection and acceptance was the trigger that set in place his rejection and condemnation of the One he had earlier called Lord. But such an act is typical of those who would oppose Christ. The religions that reject the clear teachings of the Word of God make a sham show of devotion to Christ. Carnal Christians who return to the beggarly elements of this world do the same even as their actions bely their words. But no kiss can make up for a betrayal.
Judas was not only history’s greatest traitor but also history’s greatest hypocrite. There is a warning in this for us, that we would never betray the Son of man with a kiss. – Jim MacIntosh