Leading the multitude to Gethsemane, Judas came near Jesus and kissed him (Luke 22:47; Matthew 26:49; Mark 14:45). This kiss was the token signal to the Temple guard with him (Mark 14:44) that the man was indeed Jesus, whom they sought. The word for “kiss” is kataphileo (G2705). It is made up of two Greek words: kata (G2596) meaning “against,” and phileo (G5368) meaning “love” or “denoting the personal affection of a friend”). This second word was often used by Peter to express his friendship for Christ (cp. John 21:15-17). So, right up to the last, Judas acted out his subtlety, causing the other disciples to believe all was well for the moment, so advantage could be taken. Thus expressing his love for Christ, Judas could have easily told the others later that he had been deceived by the chief priests. He could have told them that he thought he was orchestrating a reconciliation between the chief priests and Christ, and the weapons of the Temple guard were to be at Christ’s service against Rome. The different excuses one could imagine to hide one’s sin are nearly endless.
Judas kissed Jesus saying, “Master, Hail Master!” (Matthew 26:49; Mark 14:45). Although Jesus knew perfectly well why Judas had come, he remained vulnerable up to the final moment, calling Judas his friend and asking him why he had come with the others (Matthew 26:50; cp. Matthew 26:46; Mark 14:42). As Judas kissed him, Jesus looked at him and said “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man (i.e. Messiah) with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48). To put it another way in more personal and modern language, does my love for Jesus give the enemies of Christ the advantage? How poorly I express my love for Christ, if the enemies of the Gospel are able to justify themselves thereby! Do I imprison Christ and prevent the freedom of the Spirit, because I express my love for Christ openly… my way?
I believe differently in some matters concerning our common Christian faith: Christ’s return, what his death accomplished, who Satan is, what the Gospel encompasses, the fate of mankind, to name a few. Nevertheless, I believe Jesus saved me by grace. I had nothing to do with it, nor could I. He did this through his death on the cross. Moreover, he rose from the dead to give me spiritual and eternal life. I come by this life no other way (Acts 4:12). I also believe this to be the “whole Gospel” offered to all sinners.
Although some would disagree that this and only this is the “whole Gospel,” I do not believe that anyone, calling himself or herself a Christian, would disagree with the content of what I call the “whole Gospel.” All Christians agree that Jesus died to save sinners, and he rose again to give us life. My point is this, do I use my differences to separate brethren, to create even more divisions within the Body of Christ, and if so, am I not expressing my love for Christ in a manner that gives the enemies of the Gospel an advantage? Furthermore, whatever freedom the Spirit of God has in me would be quenched. How then could the Holy Spirit work in me, if I use his work to destroy the unity of the Temple of God (1Corinthians 3:15-17)? And, if this be the case, am I not imprisoning or limiting the activity of the Holy One (Psalm 78:41) in my life and in the lives of others who are affected by what I say and do?
There is a fine line between the arrogance of a Judas and my desire to rest upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ, himself, being the Stone upon which even they are founded (Ephesians 2:20-22). In the past, I have permitted men to believe for me. I have permitted men to determine the limits of my faith in and knowledge of Christ. However, I have been betrayed by all in whom I had ever put such trust. I dare not ever again trust anyone but Christ in that way. Nevertheless, I must guard myself in how I speak in his Name (1Corinthians 3:10-15). I dare not be arrogant. I dare not love Christ in my own way, a way that profits me (or my cause). Rather, I must love Christ in a manner that profits him and the cause of the Gospel. It was Judas who divided his loyalty to Christ with his own political cause. He presumed his own agenda and the Gospel of Christ were one and the same. They were not! His ‘friendship’ with Jesus ended in Jesus’ being crucified, mocked and slandered. May I never be found taking advantage of the differences I have with mainstream Christianity in a manner that mocks and slanders Jesus. May God have mercy on us all for the differences we have with one another and may our boast not be in those differences but in the cross of Christ. Oh God, have mercy!
Smoodock's Blog 