WHAT IS THE GREATEST ACT OF LOVE? A KISS?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingegrs@aol.com
While this lesson is about THE KISS, perhaps the greatest act of love is TO LISTEN!
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require
of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
1. THE WORD KISS, KISSES AND KISSED IS IN THE BIBLE 48 TIMES.
THE OLD TESTAMENT HAS THE MOST REFERENCES TO THE KISS.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
There was a popular PRIME MINISTER IN ENGLAND NAMED WILLIAM EWARD
GLADSTONE... GLADSTONE had heard about PRINCESS ALICE of the Royal Family dying.
So Gladstone called for THE HOUSE OF COMMONS to have a VOTE OF SYMPHATHY
for the Royal Family. The House listened as Gladstone told the account of the death.
PRINCESS ALICE'S CHILD was very sick with DIPHTHERIA.
The Doctor explained in great detail how dangerous "A KISS" could be.
So the doctor warned the whole family, under NO CIRCUMSTANCE was anyone to KISS
the child.
One night the child had a terrible night with fever and spasms. The child was in great pain
and was in a coma. PRINCESS ALICE WAS HOLDING THE CHILD IN HER ARMS WHEN
SHE AWOKE AND LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM.
AT THAT TIME THE DAUGHTER OF ALICE SEEMED TO BE AFRAID AND THE LITTLE
GIRL CRIED OUT:KISS ME MOMMA, MOMMA PLEASE, KISS ME!
What would you do? Her precious daughter was burning up with fever and she asked her
MOMMA: PLEASE KISS ME! What else would any loving mother do? She kissed her sick
daughter several times and held her near her heart.
This KISSED COST THE MOTHER, PRINCESS ALICE HER LIFE. She soon had
Diphtheria, at this time in history, DIPHTHERIA WAS DEADLY TO ADULTS...
2. A KISS CAN COST A BIG PRICE... KEZAZAH TRADITION...
WILL WE LEARN THE KISS OF FORGIVENESS?
ACTION VS. REACTION... WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE...
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father
saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
AS THOSE THAT UNDERSTAND JEWISH LAW AND TRADITION TO DO CERTAIN THINGS
WOULD DEFILE YOU AND YOU COULD NOT GO INTO THE TEMPLE AND YOU COULD NOT
TOUCH OTHER GOOD PEOPLE. Seems religious practices were to be repulsed by SIN and
SINNERS? While God hates sin, never forget GOD LOVES SINNERS.
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father
saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
THE JEWISH HAD A TRADITION CALLED "KEZAZAH." In the kezazah ceremony when a
wayward family member embarrassed the family name there was a price to be paid.
if they ever returned to the village the "mayor" would take a glass PITCHER and throw
and BREAK IT at the feet of the OFFENDER. This public disgrace was terrible. OFTEN
THE TOWN WOULD REFUSE RE-ENTRY TO THIS "TERRIBLE PERSON"...
This Father knew this KENAZAH CERMONY and he desired to save his son this ugly
experience. THE FATHER WENT OUT AND SAT ON THE HILL BEFORE THE CITY LIMITS,
AND WAITED DAY AFTER DAY. This is a lesson OF GRACE BEFORE THE JUDGMENT.
THE FATHER EXTENDED GRACE TO HIS SON AND PROVED THE GRACE NOT JUST BY
THE KISS, THE FATHER GAVE HIM SHOES, (lack of shoes indicated slavery), A ROBE,
AND A RING AND A FATTED CALF...
THE FATHER KNEW IF YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TOGETHER TO KISS, YOU CAN NOT
SEE ANY FAULTS OR REMEMBER ANY MISTAKES. The Father knew if he touched his son
he would have to undergo the process of purification to go back to the temple.
AS WE STUDY THE KISSES OF THE BIBLE, LET US REMEMBER A KISS CAN BE
VERY COSTLY... the father had the right priorities. His love clearly defined what was
important to him.
3. FLIRTING WITH SIN WILL ALWAYS LEAD TO THE LESSON THAT NOT ALL KISSES
ARE GOOD... THERE IS A CLASSIFICATION OF THE KISS OF EVIL KISS,
A EVIL KISS IS LIKE A POTATO CHIP, betting you can't eat just one? One evil kiss can
ignite a terrible fire... two teens in east Tennessee never dream the fires they started
would burn hundreds of acres and destroy 1,200 structures and TAKE THE LIVES OF
10+ PEOPLE, and untold animals.
A PERSON WOULD KISS THE HAND OF AN IDOL'S HAND...
1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto
Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
Hosea 13:2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver,
and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them,
Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
4. PROBABLY THE MOST EVIL AND MOST WELL KNOW KISSES IN HISTORY IS THE
KISS THAT JUDAS GAVE THE SON OF GOD.
Luke 22:47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of
the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said unto him,
Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss.
5. THE KISS OF RECOGNITION --- IDENTITY--- WE MUST LEARN TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE
AND WHAT OUR IS WILLING TO PAY...
ESAU WAS AN ANGRY INDIVIDUAL, BUT NEVER FORGET HE MADE THE CHOICES HE
MADE BY HIS OWN FREE WILL... HE SOLD IT ALL FOR A BOWL OF SOUP AND MARRYING
EVIL WOMEN...
The kiss teaches us we can not always believe what we see, how we feel...
Our emotions can play games with us.
Genesis 27:26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him,
and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
6. OUR KISS CAN REVEAL A BROKEN HEART OF TRUE WORSHIP...
THE WORSHIP KISS CAN BRING US TO JESUS' FEET.
Luke 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and
did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Luke 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to
kiss my feet.
7. CONFLICT IS A REAL PART OF LIFE --- PART OF CONFLICT IS GOD GIVING
OPPORTUNITIES --- ME CAN NOT ALWAYS AVOID CONFLICT, AND IT MAY NOT BE
EASILY OR SOON CORRECTED BUT KNOW THERE IS A KISS OF PEACE---
ESAU AND JACOB WERE AS DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY.
Esau was very bitter and angry at his brother. THIS ANGRY SPIRIT BECAME A WAY OF LIFE.
ESAU WAS THE BEGINNING OF MOAB. EVERYONE KNOWS THIS ANGER PASSED DOWN
THROUGH GENERATIONS. ESAU MADE A VOW TO KILL HIS BROTHER WHEN THEIR MOM
AND DAD WERE GONE.
It took Esau and his brother JACOB (ISRAEL) about 20 years to bury the AXE...
Genesis 33:4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him:
and they wept.
ABSALOM WAS ANGRY AT HIS (1/2) BROTHER RAPED HIS SISTER.
ABSALOM TOOK JUSTICE IN HIS OWN HANDS...
ABSALOM SPENT 5 LONG YEARS WITHOUT SEEING HIS FATHER DAVID...
JOAB MADE THE REUNION POSSIBLE AND THE KING KISSED AND FORGAVE HIM/
2 Samuel 14:33 So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he
came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king
kissed Absalom.
8. THE KISS OF GOODBYE, FAREWELL...
TALK OF HEAVEN --- NO SAD FAREWELLS WILL THERE BE SPOKEN...
BUT AS LONG AS WE ARE ON EARTH SO LONG, IT'S BEEN GOOD TO KNOW YOU HAPPENS.
There was a sign at the train depot that said:
START KISSING NOW SO THE TRAIN CAN LEAVE THE STATION ON TIME.
Laban wants to say goodbye to his two daughters and grandchildren.
Genesis 31:28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done
foolishly in so doing.
While I hate saying goodbye it is part of reality.
Genesis 31:55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters,
and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.
Naomi said goodbye to her husband and two sons, and now she is saying goodbye to her
daughter in laws. But God has a plan, TRUST THE PLAN... TRUST THE KISS.
Ruth 1:9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.
Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
9. THE KISS OF HONOR --- GIVE HONOR WHERE HONOR IS DUE...
Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled
but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said,
Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
10. THE KISS OF FAMILY--- THE OLDER I GET THE MORE I LOVE FAMILY AND FAMILY TIME.
Genesis 27:26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
Genesis 45:15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren
talked with him.
Genesis 50:1 And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
Exodus 18:7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and
they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
11. THE NEW TESTAMENT KISS IS THE KISS A SYMBOL OF BROTHERLY LOVE
IF YOU HAVE DIRTY GLASSES THE WORLD WILL APPEAR DIRTY.
THE KISS IS A SYMBOL OF CHRISTIAN LOVE
Romans 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
1 Corinthians 16:20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
2 Corinthians 13:12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
1 Peter 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that
are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
CONCLUSION: This is not an exhaustive study of kisses, but I must conclude that all
kisses are not with the lips. Some kisses are with kindness and the work of your hands.
Get your stuff together, my friend. There are many little un-noticed, unseen, un-remembered,
un-appreciated deeds of kindness that are A KISS OF LOVE.
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of
thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
My hands are so small, could you invest and tell another of my work?
