Scripture:
Matthew 26:47-56 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
The Judas Kiss
47 While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. (A) A large mob, with swords and clubs, was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 His betrayer had given them a sign: "The One I kiss, He's the One; arrest Him!" 49 So he went right up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!"—and kissed Him.
50 "Friend," (B) Jesus asked him, "why have you come?" [a]
Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him. 51 At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest's slave and cut off his ear. (C)
52 Then Jesus told him, "Put your sword back in place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword. (D) 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions [b] of angels? (E) 54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled (F) that say it must happen this way?"
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, [c] to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn't arrest Me. (G) 56 But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures (H) [d] would be fulfilled." Then all the disciples (I) deserted Him and ran away.
Footnotes:
Matthew 26:50 Or Jesus told him, "do what you have come for." (as a statement)
Matthew 26:53 A Roman legion contained up to 6,000 soldiers.
Matthew 26:55 Lit as against a criminal
Matthew 26:56 Or the Scriptures of the prophets
Cross references:
Matthew 26:47 : Mk 14:43-50; Lk 22:47-53; Jn 18:3-11;
Matthew 26:50 : Mt 20:13; 22:12;
Matthew 26:51 : Lk 22:38; Jn 18:10;
Matthew 26:52 : Gn 9:6; Rv 13:10;
Matthew 26:53 : 2Kg 6:17; Dn 7:10; Mt 4:11; Lk 8:30;
Matthew 26:54 : Mt 1:22; 26:24;
Matthew 26:55 : Mk 12:35; Lk 21:37; Jn 7:19; 8:2; 18:20;
Matthew 26:56 : Mt 26:54; Rm 1:2; 2Pt 1:20;
Matthew 26:56 : Mt 10:1; 26:56; Mk 3:7; 16:20; Lk 6:13; Jn 12:16;
Reflection:
Do you know the pain of rejection? The greatest pain and injury comes not from our enemies but from those closest to us. Psalm 55 foretells the suffering of rejection which God's anointed King and Messiah would endure for our sake: "It is not an enemy who taunts me-- then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me-- then I could hide from him But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to hold sweet converse together; within God's house we walked in fellowship" (Psalm 55:12-14). In the ancient world a kiss was a sign of intimate friendship and trust. Judas' betrayal with a kiss shows the hypocrisy of his love and trust. This is literally a "kiss of death" not only because it leads to Jesus' death but is also a sign of the death of one who lost all hope and abandoned God. In betraying Jesus Judas rejected the one and only hope for freedom from sin and condemnation and the hope of reconciliation and restoration to friendship with God. Jesus met rejection not with bitterness or resentment, but with love and pity. God will never stop loving us no matter how far we stray from him or abandon hope. When you encounter injury and rejection from others, how do you respond? With merciful love and a forgiving heart or with bitterness and revenge?
Jesus met his betrayal and arrest with serenity and with confident trust in his Father. He knew that this was Satan's hour of darkness but God's light and truth would prevail in the end. How did the other apostles meet this trial? They were unprepared even though Jesus has warned them about his betrayal. And they had forgotten God for the moment. Their will was to resist force with force rather than peaceably submit to God's will. Jesus never failed to show mercy and compassion even to his enemies. Luke tells us that Jesus "touched" the severed ear and healed the high priest's slave who had been struck by one of Jesus' own disciples (Luke 22:51). When adversity strikes how do you respond? With fear and panic or with confident hope and trust in God?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, only you can save us from the blindness of sin and despair. May your light dispel the darkness of our lives and give us hope and joy. Fill our hearts with mercy and compassion that we may bring hope to those who have no hope and show them the light of Christ.
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