While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” (Luke 22:47-48 NIV)In the ancient Middle East it was not unusual for a man to kiss his close friends as a sign of love and loyalty. Followers also kissed their master as a sign of respect. Which makes Judas' kiss an especially mean-spirited act of betrayal. Judas - one of the Twelve - uses a kiss to signal the soldiers as to which one they should arrest. This act alone explains why Judas remains one of the most despised men in human history. But if we fixate solely on Judas' wrongdoing we'll miss what his actions might say about us. Have we ever betrayed Jesus, not in the obvious and literal way of Judas, but in our hearts and by our actions? Have we ever confessed Jesus as Lord, only to let someone or something else take his rightful place on the throne of our hearts? I hesitate to even mention the fact that sometimes I have worshiped Jesus with my own lips with words, songs, and prayers, only to reject him with my actions. Sadly there is more than a little Judas in me. And for that I need forgiveness and grace. Don't you?
-GHT
No comments:
Post a Comment