A Faulty Motive With A Kiss (Maundy Thursday 2023)

A FAULTY MOTIVE WITH A KISS

Text: Matthew 26:47 - 56

Matthew 26:47-56  While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.  (48)  Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him."  (49)  At once he came up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.  (50)  Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.  (51)  Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.  (52)  Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  (53)  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  (54)  But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?"  (55)  At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me.  (56)  But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Why did Judas betray Jesus with a kiss? In that day, a kiss was a way of greeting. Even in some other cultures around the world, kissing is still a way of social greeting.

CULTURAL KISSES

Have you ever thought about the cultural context of kisses?

“In many European countries, people typically greet each other by kissing on the cheek three times, alternately, starting with the right. Indeed, if you find yourself in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Slovenia, Montenegro, or North Macedonia, … People in Belgium, including men, are also partial to giving each other an air kiss. This is also customary in some parts of Italy (except for the north) among people who know each other very well. then this is the way to go. …. Forbidden kisses; In Qatar, kissing in public could get you in trouble…. In Egypt kissing n public could land you in jail. … It is also illegal in Iowa for a man with a mustache to kiss a woman in public. https://www.expatica.com/living/integration/greeting-customs-around-the-world-11731/ I wonder how that rule would work for a man with a mustache kissing his bride in their wedding.

What does the New Testament say about kisses?

Five times in the New Testament, the scriptures tell us to greet one another with a kiss (Rom_16:16; 1Co_16:20 ; 2Co_13:12; 1Th_5:26;  1Pe_5:14). Judas used this kiss, which was a sign of greeting as a sign of betraying Jesus.  

THE KISSLESS CRITICS

Jesus once talked about a sinful woman who wet His feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair. He said this in response to a Pharisee named Simon who questioned if Jesus was a prophet. I love how Jesus put the Pharisee in his place at his own his and at his own banquet. Jesus politely rebukes this Pharisee named Simon in his arrogance as he points out Simon’s hardness of heart. “Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet” (Luke 7:44 - 45).

She was kissing Jesus’s feet out of joy from being forgiven and set free from the power of sin that made he a slave to guilt. Jesus told her that she was forgiven.

Remember the kiss of the father of the prodigal son upon his return home? The father saw him far off and ran to greet him and kiss him as the elder brother refused to greet him without a hug, let alone a kiss as he sulked!

PREDESTINED BETRAYAL

What was his motive for betraying Jesus? After all didn’t Jesus pick Judas to be a disciples knowing fully well that one day he would betray Jesus? So why in the world would Jesus pick Judas any way?

What were the possible motives for Judas to betray Jesus?

1) Trying to force Jesus hand: Years ago, I read one of William Barclay’s books entitled the Master ‘s Men, where he mentioned that Judas betrayed Jesus because he was trying to force Jesus’s hand to become the militant leader that he hoped Jesus would be. Had Judas misunderstood the symbol of peace during the Palm Sunday parade where Jesus entered on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9)?