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While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, \u201cJudas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?\u201d (Luke 22:47-48).

In today\u2019s text, we see just how deep and depraved sin can be. Judas\u2019 betrayal of Jesus was of the worst sort. But we also see just how determined Jesus is to bring redemption to the cosmos. He is willing to accept the betrayal from a friend so that all, including us, can be named his friends.

In those days, it was not unusual for men to exchange a kiss when they met. It was a convenient way for Judas to identify Jesus for those who had come to arrest him. It would have been very dark and those with only a cursory knowledge of Jesus and his band of twelve, could easily have arrested the wrong man.

This kiss of greeting expressed friendship and esteem, even love. Not romantic love, to be sure. But the love of friends who will go to all lengths to help each other. Giving this kind of kiss was a powerful symbol to everyone who saw it. Strangers would never greet each other with a kiss. It was a greeting reserved only for the most special of relationships. Later, Paul told the church \u201cTo greet one another with a holy kiss\u201d (Romans 16:16).

On the very night of his betrayal, Jesus served the Passover to His disciples, including Judas. That meal was an affirmation of His covenant with them. Jesus understood what it meant to be in covenant. He knew He would have to lay down His life to empower that covenant and make it real. And just as Jesus affirmed His covenant to the other disciples that night, He confirmed it to Judas. Jesus extended His genuine love and commitment to Judas as He offered him the bread and cup, and Judas feigned commitment by accepting the bread and the cup as symbols of the covenant.

Accordingly, this method of betrayal was particularly heinous. Betraying Jesus with a kiss was about as low as a person could go. It was like saying, \u201cYou and I are best friends forever. Now please turn around so I can stab you in the back!\u201d The kiss Judas gave was false. It revealed insincerity, bogus love, and a phony commitment. The fact that it was premeditated made it even worse. This was no last-minute, accidental betrayal; it was well-planned and very deliberate. Judas played the game all the way to the end, working closely with Jesus and remaining a part of His inner circle. Then at the appointed time, Judas drove in the dagger as deep as he could!

Judas\u2019s actions were hypocritical in the extreme\u2014his actions said, \u201cI respect and honor you,\u201d at the exact time he was betraying Jesus to be murdered. Judas\u2019s actions illustrate Proverbs 27:6, \u201cWounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.\u201d Often, foes disguise themselves as friends. Evil often wears a mask to conceal its true purpose. Such deception and hypocrisy often lie at the base of sin. Sin works hard to disguise itself.

But Jesus knows what is happening, as his question, \u201cAre you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?\u201d, indicates. However, it also offers Judas one last opportunity to change course. Just hours earlier Jesus had warned his followers, \u201cThe Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!\u201d (22:22).

Jesus will walk this road. He will accept his friend\u2019s betrayal, \u201cFor the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost\u201d (19:10). And the way of salvation was through betrayal and death, \u201cThe Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life\u201d (9:22).

As Stuart Townsend sings, \u201cThrough the kisses of a friend's betrayal, He was lifted on a cruel cross; He was punished for the world's transgressions, He was suffering to save the lost; He fights for breath, He fights for me Loosing sinners from the claims of hell; And with a shout our souls are free - Death defeated by Immanuel!\u201d (From the squalor of a borrowed stable [Immanuel] \xa91999 Thankyou Music).

So, sit in that garden with Jesus, Judas, the other disciples, and the crowd coming to arrest him. See Jesus extending his hand of friendship to Judas to the very end. See that same hand extended to you. Reach out and grab hold. It is the hand of life, the hand that was dead, but is now alive, to give life to all who will take hold of it.