Judas Kiss
Right now we are celebrating Lent and looking towards Easter. I was thinking we might take a look at a key player in the story of Easter. Many times in the Bible story the characters become beloved and children and churches are named after them. But, there are some in the story whose names become synonymous with times or things that are bad. No one names their kids after these characters. I think we should talk about Judas for a minute or two.
Judas is chosen by Jesus to be a part of his twelve disciples. He was trusted; after all they put him in charge of the finances. He journeyed with Jesus, saw the miracles and listened to the teachings of a rabbi that was different. In spite of all that his story is a crazy one that has lead to him being one of the most hated and despised man to ever live. But, let’s just slow down and realize that even a Judas plays a role in God’s story.
Jesus knew that Judas would betray him. I think he knew the day that Judas started following him and seeing all those things. Jesus spend his time with Judas and yet I wonder if in the back of his mind he always knew what Judas would eventually do to him. Even with that knowledge he still loved him and spends time with him.
When it was time for one last meal with his closest friends Judas is invited and is leaning next to Jesus at the table. The Bible says that Jesus gets up and washes the feet of the disciples. Usually, at a dinner like this you hire someone to wash feet when people first come in the room. If you don’t hire someone then it is the first one to show up takes that job on themselves. Jesus, their teacher and leader, picks up the towel and starts to wash their feet. Even Judas’ feet get washed. He doesn’t skip over him, he washes his feet. Then he sits down and tells the disciples that a tough night is coming and that one of them will turn him over to the temple leaders.
The disciples begin to ask if they are the one that will turn Jesus over. Peter even gets John to ask Jesus who it is. Jesus gives no answer to any of them. He does give them a clue though. Matthew 26, tells us the story. “In the evening Jesus was sitting at the table with his twelve followers. As they were eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will turn against me.“ This made the followers very sad. Each one began to say to Jesus, “Surely, Lord, I am not the one who will turn against you, am I?“ Jesus answered, “The man who has dipped his hand with me into the bowl is the one who will turn against me. The Son of Man will die, just as the Scriptures say. But how terrible it will be for the person who hands the Son of Man over to be killed. It would be better for him if he had never been born.“ Then Judas, who would give Jesus to his enemies, said to Jesus, “Teacher, surely I am not the one, am I?“ Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.” Matthew 26:20-25 (NCV)
He dips the bread and gives it to Judas in front of them all. He lets Judas leave the room even though he knows where he is going. Judas walks out and no one stops him. He returns later with the temple police and he betrays Jesus with a kiss as he greets him in the garden. Judas later feels horrible about what he has done and takes the money back to the temple and then hangs himself. Man, his story is just bad all the way around.
Even with all of Judas’ betrayal and bad intentions he served a purpose in Jesus’ life. The last thing we want in our life is a Judas. We all have had one or two people turn their backs on us and share some stuff we thought was just between the two of you. Though we do not want a Judas in a strange way we need one. I mean Jesus said it was easy to love your friends, but hard to love your enemies. But, he still expects us to love our Judas. It makes us grow even closer to who God wants us to be. I’m not saying it is easy to live this way, but if following Jesus was easy everyone would be doing. That is why we have to stop every once in a while and offer peace to a Judas and become better and stronger people in the process. Most of all make sure you are not someone else’s Judas.