A Painful Kiss

Mark 14:41-45 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” 43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 
 
JESUS had prayed for release from this cup of suffering. Now he knows the Father’s answer to his prayer. The cup remains on Jesus. He obediently goes to confront his purpose. Jesus awakens his sleeping disciples into action, “Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go!”
   “Let us go!” is not Jesus’ panic to urge, “Let’s run and retreat!” No, it is, “Let us go and meet my betrayer, my destiny, my purpose in the Father’s will.” Jesus is the faithful Son, who calls his disciples to go to war with him. But each of the remaining 11 will fulfill Jesus’ prophecy in Mark 14:27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’”
   Judas strikes first. Have you seen such an unholy kiss? Judas, you betrayer, you’ve done your dirty work. You’ve brought to Gethsemane a crowd of people who will follow the crowd, regardless of where it goes, even if it goes to Hell. What were you thinking? What did the disciples think when they saw you kiss their rabbi?
   Judas, you call him, “Rabbi!” but really he is no longer your rabbi. You’ve turned on him, and you’ve turned him over to his enemies. You brought along some cowards who have only courage to arrest Jesus in the dark. Evil works at night, Judas, and you’re leading the way.
   How could you do this, Judas? What do you think of Jesus standing there to receive your kiss? Were your self-interests so strong you forgot the many wonders and signs Jesus revealed in Israel? What is it like when your lips touched his cheek? Did he back off to repulse you?
   Judas, did you regret your time with Jesus? Did you wonder why you answered his call to follow? Are you feeling empty inside? Do you perhaps want to turn and defend him? Or is it too late?
   For Judas, it was too late. His appointed time had come. The Father had allowed Satan to enter Judas: John 13:27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him. Judas was the devil’s weapon against the Son’s salvation. Satan didn’t win in the desert temptations (Luke 4). So he attempted to defeat Jesus in Jerusalem. In a few minutes it seemed everything Jesus had come to do would be destroyed.
   But as always, it is Jesus who is in control in the Father’s will. Jesus will not flee the Father’s purpose. He will fulfill the Scriptures that promise these things must happen.