I am Judas’ Kiss

I’m so grateful to my parents for so many things they gave me growing up, the lessons they taught me, and the traditions they shared with me and my brother. One of those traditions that I am most thankful for is that we did NOT wake up on Easter morning to a basket filled with candy and goodies. Of course we celebrated Easter, and of course I experienced plenty of Easter egg hunts with my friends and my family. But I am thankful that I did not wake up each year expecting the latest of my “I want this” list to have something marked off thanks to “The Easter Bunny,” I’m thankful that my parents never made it about anything more than the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I have spent my whole life in church, and I have been able to somewhat “grasp” what took place almost 2000 years ago. Although my mind can’t even begin to fathom why, or the pain that really took place, or the love that my Heavenly Father showed. For some reason, this year I find myself even hungrier for the truth. The weight of what took place over the course of those few days weighs so heavily on my heart and it is something I’m aware of in every thought and every aspect of the day.

Over the past few months, I have been drawn to the story of Judas as it comes up in different places. The One Year Bible plan has already gotten in to the book of Luke, so we have read the Crucifixion story 3 times (and a just about to read it once more) and I continually long to know more about Judas. What else was going on in his life? What was so tempting that he could betray someone (anyone, let alone JESUS) on such a terrible level? At what point did he regret his decision, as soon as his lips touched Jesus’ face, or was it a little later?

The Wednesday before Jesus crucifixion is known to some as “Holy Wednesday” and to others it is known as “Spy Wednesday.” It is given this name because some believe that on that Wednesday Judas met with the Sanhedrin to set up a plan to betray Jesus. This was no surprise to Jesus though; He had spoken of it to His disciples on a few occasions. And as He sat with them and shared a final meal together, He did His best to prepare their hearts one last time.

I read through this passage in Matthew today and I noticed something I hadn’t before. In verse 27, Jesus pours wine for each of the disciples and says, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” – Wow…did you catch that?? Jesus says for them to drink it, and follows up with ALL of you. Judas, the very one who would betray Him, is sitting at that very table, and Jesus shares the wine with him as well.

We are no different than Judas. We choose daily whether to live for him, or walk without him. I doubt there is anyone on this earth that hasn’t, in some way or another, been the “kiss on Jesus face.” Just as he consciously made the choice to walk up to Jesus and kiss his cheek, we consciously make choices to break Jesus’ commands, to follow our flesh for selfish desires, or to ignore the prompting of the Spirit to do certain things. What an AMAZING picture of grace and mercy to know that although we fail Him, our Heavenly Father still shares the cup with us.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite new songs “You Love Me Anyway” by the Sidewalk Prophets. The bridge of the song is so powerful - I am the thorn in your crown, but you love me anyway. I am the sweat from your brow, but you love me anyway. I am the nail in your wrist, but you love me anyway. And I am Judas’ kiss, but you love me anyway. I am the man who yelled out from the crowd for your blood to be spilled on this earth-shaking ground. I turned away with this smile on my face and with this sin in my heart tried to bury your grace, but alone in the night I still call out to you.

As a nice little side note, Judas received 30 silver coins for a “simple” kiss. Today that would be worth about $7500.