Luke 22:48

Unmindful of the glory of Christ, he thought to be able to act secretly, daring to make an especial token of love the instrument of his treachery.

But Jesus said to him: Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? He says, do you betray the Son of Man because it is the flesh, not the divinity, that is seized. However, it rebukes the ungrateful all the more because …

He admits him to Himself with this hostile kiss. And thunderbolts did not rain down upon the ungrateful and treacherous one! Thus the Savior teaches us meekness in such circumstances. He says only with reproach: "Judas! Do you betray with a kiss?" Will you not …

This sign was truly that of betrayers, because it is a sign of love, and yet it proceeded from the perversity of the heart: and therefore he adds: But Jesus said to him: Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss? namely, …

But Jesus said unto him, Judas,....

Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? - Dost thou attempt to kiss me as a friend, while thou art delivering me up into the hands of my enemies? We need not wonder at all this, as Satan himself had entered into the heart of this traitor, see Luk 22:3; consequently we can expect nothing from him but what is fell, deceitful, and cruel.

We should learn, for one thing, from these verses — that the worst and most wicked acts may be done under a show of love to Christ . We read that when the traitor Judas brought the enemies of Christ to capture Him — he betrayed Him "with a kiss." He made a pretense of affection and respect — at the very moment when he was about to deliver his Master into the hands of his deadliest enemies! Conduct like this, unhappily, is not without its parallels.

WHEN SATAN HAD BEEN ENTIRELY worsted in his conflict with Christ in the garden, the man-devil Judas came upon the scene. As the Parthian in his flight turns round to shoot the fatal arrow, so the arch-enemy aimed another shaft at the Redeemer, by employing the traitor into whom he had entered. Judas became the devil’s deputy, and a most trusty and serviceable tool he was. The Evil One had taken entire possession of the apostate’s heart, and, like the swine possessed of devils, he ran violently downwards towards destruction.

We should learn, for one thing, from these verses — that the worst and most wicked acts may be done under a show of love to Christ . We read that when the traitor Judas brought the enemies of Christ to capture Him — he betrayed Him "with a kiss." He made a pretense of affection and respect — at the very moment when he was about to deliver his Master into the hands of his deadliest enemies! Conduct like this, unhappily, is not without its parallels. The pages of history record many an instance of enormous wickedness done under the garb of religion. The name of God has too often been pressed into the service of persecution, treachery, and crime! When Jezebel would have Naboth killed, she ordered a "fast to be proclaimed," and false witnesses to accuse him of "blaspheming God and the king." (1 Kings 21:9-10.) When the Catholic church led a crusade against the Christians in southern France, they were ordered to be murdered and pillaged, as an act of service to Christ. When the Spanish Inquisition tortured and burned Christians — they justified their abominable dealings by a profession of zeal for God's truth. The false apostle Judas Iscariot has never lacked successors and imitators! There have always been men ready to betray Christ with a kiss, and willing to deliver the Gospel to its enemies under a show of respect. Conduct like this, we need not doubt, is utterly abominable in the sight of God. To injure the cause of religion under any circumstances, is a great sin — but to injure it while we pretend to show kindness — is the blackest of crimes! To betray Christ at any time, is the very height of wickedness — but to betray Him with a kiss, proves a man to have become a very child of Hell.

WHEN SATAN HAD BEEN ENTIRELY worsted in his conflict with Christ in the garden, the man-devil Judas came upon the scene. As the Parthian in his flight turns round to shoot the fatal arrow, so the arch-enemy aimed another shaft at the Redeemer, by employing the traitor into whom he had entered. Judas became the devil’s deputy, and a most trusty and serviceable tool he was. The Evil One had taken entire possession of the apostate’s heart, and, like the swine possessed of devils, he ran violently downwards towards destruction. Well had infernal malice selected the Savior’s trusted friend to be his treacherous betrayer, for thus he stabbed at the very center of his broken and bleeding heart. But, beloved, as in all things God is wiser than Satan, and the Lord of goodness outwitteth the Prince of Evil, so, in this dastardly betrayal of Christ, prophecy was fulfilled, and Christ was the more surely declared to be the promised Messiah. Was not Joseph a type? and, lo! like that envied youth, Jesus was sold by his own brethren. Was he not to be another Samson, by whose strength the gates of hell should be torn from their posts? lo! like Samson, he is bound by his countrymen, and delivered to the adversary.