Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great 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; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do. -Matt 26:46-50
Betrayed with a kiss. The kindest of all things used for the most vial of all things. I've read these verses a hundred times but for some reason this time it hit me different. I felt it deep within my heart as I began to understand the immense blow of betrayal inflicted upon Jesus. He knew Judas would betray Him, yet He wanted him still, He chose him still. Even in the midst of a the most horrific betrayal Jesus continued to love Judas, even allowing him to kiss Him and calling him friend. I can only imagine the eyes of mercy that were gleaming with love as Judas sealed the deal with a kiss.
After wondering why Jesus would allow Judas to kiss him, I started to understand the picture Jesus was painting through this demonstration. The ones who betray the son of God most are the ones who are close enough to kiss Him, yet do not love Him. The verse "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.-Matthew 15:8 took on a whole new meaning after understanding this illustration. We who call ourselves heirs of the Kingdom of God have been invited to kiss the face of the Living God. An invitation that was not possible in the Old Covenant. Even the most favored and chosen of God in the Old Testament did not get to partake in this invitation. However, Jesus through his sacrifice of love, opened the door for a new level of intimacy with the Father by taking on our punishment, so that we might be made holy. We have now been granted access to approach the throne of grace boldly without fear or insecurity because we now appear before God without blemish.
"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."-Hebrews 4:16
As the Father extents the invitation for greater intimacy with His children, nothing offends Him more than when we reject the heart connection He's yearned for by acting like we love him and accept His offering (the Son); but in reality we keep our hearts far from Him. When we worship Him because of what it's gaining us, or because it's what people told us to do, or even when we worship Him because we want to appear desirable to people; we are worshiping Him in vain.
"They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’”- Matthew 15:9
"Each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.- 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
As we continue to serve God our work for Him will be tested and our motives exposed. If the motives behind what we did was really to glorify ourselves it will be exposed as such and will amount to nothing. God alone examines and tests the heart of people and He alone knows why we do the work we do. Let us not be people who kiss Him but do not love Him. People who honor Him with our lips but keep our hearts far out of His reach. Let us be people who do everything unto the Lord and every motive of the heart has been tested and purified through the fires of refinement. Let us redeem the reward that was bought for us in the blood of Jesus. Let us take hold of our heavenly calling and capture the heart that has been extended to us. We have been invited to the most scandalous of love affairs and if we partake in His goodness we will never be unsatisfied.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. - Colossians 3:23-24
Let's draw near to His heart today and kiss Him back with the consuming love He lavishes on us. Granting Him the love he so deeply desires and rightly deserves.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.-Psalm 2:12
