Luke 22: 47-48
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’
The hour has come. This evening is a whirlwind of emotions… loyalty and betrayal, courage and cowardice, power and weakness, determination and impulse, wounding and healing, conspiracy and committed love. Today’s media would be swarming all over the place with accusations and commentaries. Can’t you imagine the headlines about the scandalous disloyalty of Judas, one of Jesus’ closest companions betrayed Jesus with a kiss, a kiss, a sign of friendship between family members and close friends. What hypocrisy! Is this the beginning of the mockery to come to Jesus?
So, why a kiss to betray Jesus? Look at Jesus’ response. Jesus says, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Jesus is telling him you will forsake and inflict pain on the one you came to love. Isn’t it easier to be hated and rejected by a stranger than it is with a family member or a loved one who promises to love you with words, but hate you with their actions.
I find that I too forsake Jesus when I say that I love him, yet grieve him when I reject him by my actions. I call myself a “follower of Christ”, yet I get caught in this cycle of loving Christ, and then disappoint him with my actions. I’m thankful to have a loving God who forgives and loves me.