Luke 22.47-53 at the request of several, I am going to add the text to our Morning Briefings

While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, "Stop! No more of this." And He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours."

Good Morning.

A sobering scene, isn't it? From under the boughs of the olive trees in the garden, Jesus rises from his position of prayer, probably rubs his knees a few times, and then walks over to where the disciples are and wakes them up again. As He is talking to them, a crowd of heavily armed men sent by the Sanhedrin, and accompanied by a Roman troop with lanterns, torches, and weapons, approaches, with Judas leading the way. Immediately, the disciples realize what Jesus had told them earlier in the evening was coming to pass--one of them, Judas, was barging into this intimate, emotional, spiritual setting to deliver the Lord into cruel hands. We will never know the motive of Judas, though I wish I could ask him why he chose to betray Jesus with a KISS; couldn't he have just greeted Him with, "Jesus," or "Lord, I've been looking for you. . ."? That would have let those who were there to apprehend Jesus know for sure they had their man. . . but a KISS?---a common sign of friendly greeting of the day, or a universal sign of affection. . . but not betrayal. . . at least, not until this day.

Betrayal cuts deep into the soul - it is personal. It's a weapon found only in the hands of one you love. Your enemy has no such tool, for only a friend can betray. Betrayal is mutiny. It's a violation of trust, an inside job. While we knew Jesus to be lonely before, loneliness is magnified by betrayal. . . have you ever thought about that? 'Betrayal is more than rejection. Rejection opens a wound, betrayal pours the salt. It's more than loneliness. Loneliness leaves you in the cold, betrayal closes the door. It's more than mockery. Mockery plunges the knife, betrayal twists it. It's more than an insult. An insult attacks your pride, betrayal breaks your heart.'?

Have you ever been betrayed? Maybe by a cheating spouse-

an unscrupulous business partner

a parent you adored but who failed the character test, and subsequently you

a friend who told your deepest secret. . .

how did you respond?

What have you done to heal from your betrayal(s)? ________________________________________ Will harboring the anger solve the problem? _____ Will getting even remove the hurt? _______ Does it affect you in other ways?________________________________ Why do you find forgiveness difficult? __________________________________________ Unforgiveness just keeps you imprisoned, while the betrayer is free. Often justice won't come this side of eternity, so we must find a way to give our hurt to our Maker, and be healed.

Let us consider Jesus again. . . Matthew's gospel records that as he saw Judas coming, "Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him." Even knowing what Judas was about to do, Jesus called him "friend". What kind of love is this? It was love for Judas, it was love for you and me, it was love even for the disciples. Think of it--as soon as the rough hands seized Jesus, the disciples fell away; none went with Him. None. So, while Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, the disciples also betrayed their Lord by leaving him in his hour of need. He loved them anyway.

One thing is clear from this passage--Jesus has accepted what is going to happen. While He has prayed that 'the cup would pass from Him', the Father said, 'No. This is the only way,' and Jesus is now ready. Hence the calm He exhibits with the kiss on His cheek, and as the soldiers take Him into custody. What kind of love is this? For you. . . for me.

Bask in the knowledge of His love for you today~

Christine And the Angels were Silent, Max Lucado