Betrayed With A Kiss

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. ⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”  Matthew 26:  47-50 NIV

 

 

^{In this verse, Judas hands Jesus over to the crowd with a kiss! That seems terrible, but it happens often. Even today, someone may seem to be doing something nice when they really have a hidden agenda. We often don't realize what a person's true intentions are without the help of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus knew. Jesus knew what Judas actually planned to do after that kiss and He still called him "friend."}

^{When we find out that we have been betrayed, especially in such a deceptive manner, we generally become angry at the person. We want to retaliate. We feel that we deserve better than that and we want the other person to receive what they deserve. However, Jesus didn't see it that way. Wouldn't Jesus Christ deserve the best treatment? Yet, He didn't retaliate against Judas. He didn't remind Him of all he had done for Him in the past. He didn't remind Him of how much Judas owed Him. No, He simply called him friend and told him to proceed with what he came to do.}

^{Sometimes Satan uses people in terrible ways. Often, people may not even realize they are being used as a pawn. They may feel justified by their actions because they have convinced themselves of what they deserve.}

^{The truth is that, if we all received what we truly deserved, then every one of us would have to spend our eternity in hell. We would never be able to repay God for all of our sins. Instead, Jesus Christ paid the price for us and, through grace, none of us have to receive what we deserve. Sometimes we have to look at others in the same way. We have to be willing to extend to them the same kind of grace that God has given us, even if it doesn't seem fair. If things were truly fair, we would all be worse off. So, let's not dwell so much on what is fair, just, or deserved, but rather let us dwell on what God would expect.}

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:19-21 NIV