Matthew 26:47-50
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. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
The “Judas kiss.” Over the millennium it has come to represent the most intimate of betrayals. For Judas was with Jesus from the beginning. His betrayal of his teacher is all the more wretched because he not only shared bread and fellowship with Jesus but also shared his dreams, hopes, and mission.
Or did he? That becomes a key question. In the beginning, he clearly thought he shared Jesus’ vision, but over time grew disillusioned and disappointed, even to the point of being willing to sell his teacher to his opponents for a few pieces of silver.
I hesitate to make the jump from Judas’ betrayal of Jesus to our own missteps and sins so as to not underestimate the sheer disappointment Jesus must have felt when one he calls “friend” betrays him. At the same time, I think the root causes of my sins are not so different from Judas’. For Judas thought he knew how the kingdom should play out. He was sure he understood Jesus’ mission, perhaps better than Jesus himself. And when Jesus didn’t live up to Judas’ expectations, then he gave up on him, going his own way, even to the point of betraying him.
Judas, in other words, wanted to be in control. And here is where the lines of my failings and Judas’ intersect. I also regularly think I know what is best for me and how life and the world should unfold. And when things don’t go according to plan – my plan – I am easily frustrated, disappointed, angry, and tempted to despair. Is this not, perhaps, one of the central causes of all sin? That we are confident we know better – even than God – and desire to have our own way in matters? Rather than yield to God’s vision and mission, we set our own course and, as the word “sin” literally means, miss the mark.
Yet here is a word of hope: if Jesus can not only call Judas “friend,” but also endure that betrayal and ultimately use it to demonstrate the power of God’s love, then there is nothing we can do that can banish or void God’s love for us. God can and will forgive all, redeem all, even work through and use all for the sake of the world and people God loves so much.
Prayer: Dear God, forgive us when, confident of our own opinions and eager to satisfy our own desires, we go astray and miss the mark, and draw us back into your redemptive love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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