Only a friend can betray a friend
November 9, 2008
Mark 14:44 Weymouth
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. "The one I kiss," he said, "is the man: lay hold of him, and take him safely away."
Jesus is now betrayed by Judas. It is interesting the word kiss. According to Strong, the word has this meaning:
to to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling;
I can give you a kiss and it mean nothing, that is what you give to an aunt or an uncle when you are a child and told to kiss them. No, that is not what is meant here. This was the kiss of someone who had affection for Jesus. It was not a romantic or erotic kiss, but it was not a quick bus on the cheek either. It was a sign that these two were friends.
While many tend to say Judas was just playing along with Jesus and wanted to get him killed so he could be rich, I am not sure that was his full motivation. I think he may have thought that he was doing the right thing. But think of the sign of betrayal used. Why a kiss? A kiss could only come from a friend, and only a friend could betray a friend. A stranger could not betray you, there is no level of trust there. Jesus had to be betrayed, had to have that chance to lash out at the person who betrayed Him and then not do it.
Jesus was betrayed, and it could only come from someone who loved Him enough to kiss Him. What does that say about us today as we kiss our loved ones goodbye and head out the door to work. It is time to work hard not to betray that trust they give you.
