Immediately while he was still speaking,
Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs,
who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now he who was
betraying him had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, he is the
one; seize him and lead him away under guard." After coming, Judas
immediately went to Him, saying, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. They laid
hands on him and seized him.
The nature of Judas’ “betrayal” was
twofold: First, he knew where Jesus and
the disciples went privately, so the temple guards could capture him without
his supporting crowds. Secondly, he
identified Jesus as the one whom they were after, for the guards didn’t know
him by sight, especially at night. This
is “betrayal” for Judas is placing Jesus’ under the authority of the guards of
the priests. The irony is that Judas betrayed
Jesus with a kiss. A kiss is a sign of
family, of fraternity and brotherhood.
But Judas was using the kiss to identify Jesus so that he might do what
no brother would ever do. Judas also
called Jesus, “rabbi” which literally means “master.” And yet, in calling Jesus “master” Judas was
handing Jesus over to be enslaved by another.
Jesus, however, did nothing against Judas in any way, nor resisted
arrest.
Yes, our friends betrayed us. They forsook us, they hated us, they handed us over to the authorities, they beat us, they gossiped about us, they lied about us, they misunderstood our intentions, they denied they ever liked us. We became an enemy to them, and they treated us like an enemy. We are the bad guy now.
As difficult as it is to experience this, we must remember that God will use this. He will take the betrayal and turn it around to victory. The fact is, if it were not for the rejection, we could not obtain the victory. In our moment of weakness, when we are completely vulnerable, that is when God steps in. When the rug is pulled out from under you by those whom you have loved, then look for a greater place. God is on the move.
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