Betrayed With a Kiss!

Leading the multitude to Gethsemane, Judas came near Jesus and kissed him (Luke 22:47; Matthew 26:49; Mark 14:45). This kiss was the token signal to the Temple guard with him (Mark 14:44) that the man was indeed Jesus, whom they sought. The word for “kiss” is kataphileo (G2705). It is made up of two Greek words: kata (G2596) meaning “against,” and phileo (G5368) meaning “love” or “denoting the personal affection of a friend”). This second word was often used by Peter to express his friendship for Christ (cp. John 21:15-17). So, right up to the last, Judas acted out his subtlety, causing the other disciples to believe all was well for the moment, so advantage could be taken. Thus expressing his love for Christ, Judas could have easily told the others later that he had been deceived by the chief priests. He could have told them that he thought he was orchestrating a reconciliation between the chief priests and Christ, and the weapons of the Temple guard were to be at Christ’s service against Rome. The different excuses one could imagine to hide one’s sin are nearly endless.

 

Judas’ Heart and Slandering Jesus!

For a few days now I have been looking at Judas’ heart. His loyalty to Jesus was divided with his commitment to a cause, presumably a political cause. Judas was probably a Zealot. On the evening he was betrayed and immediately after Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he announced that they were spiritually clean, except for one of them (John 13:10-11). Judas was unclean, spiritually. What does this mean?

 

What Did Judas Expect to Gain by Betraying Jesus?

In two earlier posts I tried to show that Judas was devoted to Jesus (viewed HERE) but became increasingly drawn away to a **more important** objective (viewed HERE). I also claimed, and I believe the Scriptures show, that Judas did not intend for Jesus to be killed. That was not part of his plan. He was evidently surprised by the outcome of the trial before the Sanhedrin and tried to get Jesus released and cast the money, which he received for his part in the agreement, on the Temple grounds and left the scene. He visibly regretted what he had done, and found he could no longer control the outcome, as he presumed he could. Let’s recall a few events that had taken place and consider what may have been going on in Judas’ heart, and perhaps we can draw from this a lesson we can apply in our own lives.

 

The Futility of Serving Two Masters

Less than a week before the crucifixion, Judas was openly indignant over the honor done to Christ by Mary, as she poured out her expensive ointment upon Jesus’ feet (John 12:4-5). Judas believed that something or someone else was more worthy of the valuable contents of Mary’s bottle (John 12:6). In an earlier post, which can be read HERE, we saw that Judas was one who had been devoted to Christ, but his heart began to change and became increasingly more committed to someone or something other than Jesus. His friendship and loyalty to the Lord was apparently overshadowed by something else that compelled him to steal and even covet the love offering of another poured out for Christ. He would rather have sold the contents of that bottle and used the money for something else. What changed Judas? What made him a thief? He was the treasurer of the group, but he stole from what was entrusted to him (John 12:6).

 

Serving Christ, Yet Living a Secret Life!

I wonder: how many of us consider ourselves above betraying Jesus in the manner in which Judas did? I know I used to think I would never have done what Judas did, no matter what the circumstances. Nevertheless, I have come to realize how easy it is for many of us to ignorantly take part in similar betrayals of the one we love so much. I intend to write two or three articles in an effort to show how some of us, including myself, could and perhaps have been taken in by men who operate outside of the control or influence of the Spirit of God.

 

Who Am I?

Who am I with respect to God and this world? If Jesus says his Kingdom is not of this world, how can I serve God and keep from being caught up in the way of this world? This world’s way is to draw me away from Christ into its labyrinth of enticements out of which there is no way. So, who am I in this world, and when temptation arises, what exactly is going on in me? Do I have the power to stop sinning? What does God require of me and how does temptation affect me with respect to His demands?

 

Spiritual Sleep

As Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, he returned to the disciples three times and found them sleeping (Matthew 26:40-44; Mark 14:37-41; Luke 22:45). The first and second times, Jesus returned to them hoping the fruit of answered prayer would become evident in them. He prayed for his Father to remove the cup of depression from him (see, “Bearing Away Our Sins“), that is, the cup of deadly silence in their fellowship. Twice, he came looking for that second hand encouragement, that he might be strengthened. When Jesus prays, the Scriptures say he is always answered (John 11:41-42). The Father waited for the third session of prayer, giving the three disciples every opportunity to be used of God and bring strength and encouragement to Jesus in answer to his prayer, but they failed, as I so often do. They all testified of their own strength and loyalty to Christ. They could not believe that they would desert him. They were filled with the thoughts of glory issuing from their own hearts, but failed to stand with Jesus in the hour of prayer (see: “Watch and Pray”). They failed to listen for God to speak to them. I am desensitized by dwelling at the border of righteousness or the hedge that God has placed around me, and I often fail to listen for that “still small Voice” of God within. Therefore, just as Daniel waited twenty-one days for his answer, because of a spiritual battle (Daniel 10:2-3, 7-14), so Jesus waited until his third session of prayer, before his Father answered him with the comfort and strength of an angelic visit.

 

The Gethsemane

If Jesus was troubled with the apparent break in fellowship between him and his Father, how could the angel strengthen him?

I will offer a crude, but, I believe, a fairly accurate example of how Jesus could have been strengthened by the presence of the angel in Gethsemane. I believe I understand Jesus’ plight, at least in part, because of what occurred between my own father and me. I am the eldest of eight children. When I was in my twenties, my dad did something that hurt our relationship. In fact, I withheld my love for him. He hurt me, though he did not intend to do so, but I wanted to hurt him. This went on for about two years, before we were reconciled on his death bed. I tried even then to hold back the love I had for him, but I broke down and wept into his lap. Through my sobs, I could hear him say, as his hand stroked my head, “I knew he still loved me.” Up until then, my dad would not speak of his dying. Afterward, he did. I believe that our reconciliation strengthened him. He never wanted to appear weak. After we were reconciled, I believe he was able both to face death and speak about it without breaking down.

 

Bearing Away Our Sins

As Jesus prayed on the Mount of Olives in the garden called Gethsemane, his Father sent an angel to him to strengthen him (see “Praying Through Gethsemane“). What could the angel possibly do for Jesus? How can an angel strengthen God who became a man? There is an interesting account of an angel strengthening Daniel in Daniel chapter ten. Here the prophet was praying and fasting for three weeks (Daniel 10:1-3), when he saw a vision (Daniel 10:5-6). Daniel lost all his strength, and he fell prostrate with his face toward the ground (Daniel 10:8-9). The angel had to strengthen him so he could stand (Daniel 10:10-11). The prophet was unable to speak, and with each command, the angel had to strengthen him more and more (Daniel 10:15-19). Daniel experienced a similar situation during another vision (Daniel 8:1, 17-18, 26) when the angel had to physically strengthen the fear stricken prophet.

 

Praying Through Gethsemane

It is in Gethsemane where many believe Jesus faced his greatest trial. While this may be true, is it for the reason that most Christians think? Many have thought that this was the time when Satan almost won and Jesus almost lost. Is this true? Do we have a Savior who almost lost, that barely came through the battle unscathed in righteousness and integrity? Did Jesus ever ask his Father to save him from the cross, and then say, let it be your will and not mine? How could I have ever thought so of my Savior?