11/13/10 Luke 22:47-53 Sealed with a Kiss- the Arrest

47 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, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

(Giotti di Bondone Arena Chapel 1304-6)

Thoughts: It was bad enough that one of the chosen twelve should betray his master, but to actually betray Jesus with a kiss is the climax of betrayal and fake-love.  A kiss is a symbol of love and peace.  The early church had "the kiss of peace" in which they would greet each other.  But this was the kiss of death.  One of Jesus' great themes was transparency.  He was more concerned about the heart than the exterior. He called the Pharisees "whitewashed walls" meaning they were concerned about how the exterior looked (the paint) rather than the heart (the rottenness behind the paint).  Judas' kiss is a symbol is of exterior insincerity, impurity, and sin betraying the One who was the greatest representation of sincerity, purity, and innocence.  Let us resolve to never betray our Lord, and to be sincere in our love for Him. 
Prayer: May my love for you, O Lord, grow.  May my heart be sincere and deep with love for you.