Sealed with a Kiss
Hi everyone. I thought about adding in my weekly agenda a new item: to write down and reflect on my reading during my devotional time. It is basically journaling, and when shared to the web, pop culture calls it blogging. I have never done this before. I have written journals, but not blogging, so this is a new thing for me. With that said I just want to start this blog to put a disclaimer that views expressed here are solely mine and may not represent the views of the faith community that I belong to.
This week, I want to reflect on the passage based on the gospel of Matthew, and it centers on the last hours of Jesus here on earth. Ellen White writes:
It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of His earthly life. By thus contemplating His teachings and sufferings, and the infinite sacrifice made by Him for the redemption of the race, we may strengthen our faith, quicken our love, and become more deeply imbued with the spirit which sustained our Saviour. Lift Him Up, 240. (Emphasis mine)
Matthew 26:47-49 NKJV says, “47 While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. 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.
What was significant about the kiss? Have you ever thought about it? I mean, v.48 says that Judas would give them a sign, a kiss, to identify who Jesus was. I understand that during those days, if it were pitch dark without the aid of lanterns and torches, it would be impossible to recognize someone in the darkest time of the day. But this was a mob, an angry mob, which was composed of religious leaders – chief priests and elders of the people (pastors and lay members), and as noted in John 18:3, 12 some Roman soldiers were among them. So, it’s safe to assume that they came ready and prepared to arrest Jesus with huge flash lights of their time! (see John 18:3)
Again, why the kiss? Why the kiss when most, if not all of them, knew who Jesus was? I mean the religious leaders wouldn’t forget the face that turned the tables in the temple. The One who messed up their unscrupulous business! I’m sure they were still seething with anger. The face of Jesus was still fresh in their memory. There was no need for a kiss.
Judas had something different in his mind. The original Greek word for “kiss” used in v.49 of Matthew 26 is the word kataphileo, which means to kiss repeatedly, passionately, fervently. Judas loved Jesus passionately. Did he really mean to betray Jesus, or was there something else, something Judas wanted to happen? Judas planned this move. He planned that by kissing Jesus, Judas would send an implicit message, a coded message if you will, to Jesus that it was time to exercise His power and authority. “Now is the time for You to show them that You are the King!” But unfortunately, Judas’ plan was not Jesus’ plan. And when Judas discovered that his plan did not work, he committed suicide. Judas was blinded with his earthly pursuit, and didn’t care even after Jesus tried to convict his heart several times (during the Passover supper and when Jesus said to him, “Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” see John 13:5; Luke 22:48).
There is a very important lesson that we can learn from this experience. We may have the best of intentions to advance God’s work, but we should ask ourselves, “Is this the Lord’s plan or is it my plan?” Is it His way or my way? We have to remember what the Word of God through Solomon said that, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 19:21; 14:12 ESV.
