Mat 26:47-49 | KingComments | STEP | Judas is so close by that he appears on the scene while the Lord is still speaking. With his arrival he interrupts Him, as it were, in His teaching of the disciples. But the Lord is ready for it. Judas is emphatically named “one of the twelve”. It has been particularly painful for the Lord that it is someone from the company that He had gathered around Him and that has experienced Him so closely. Judas doesn’t come alone. He heads up a large crowd armed with swords and clubs. It is this great crowd that has listened so often to the Lord and has been amazed by His words and has experienced His acts of blessing. They come because the chief priests and elders of the people have sent them. It is that easy to influence the crowd. Judas, again called “he who was betraying Him”, had given them a sign to indicate Who they should seize. Was it possible that they would be mistaken with Him Who had been with them for so long? It was dark and the Lord was not a particularly remarkable Person when it comes to His outer appearance. The other disciples are men of His age group. The agreed sign is the most painful sign that could be conceived. The kiss is a sign of love. Judas uses this sign of love to betray Him. He can no longer be stopped by anything and carries out his wicked and hypocritical work of betrayal. He kisses the Lord intimately. How hardened must the traitor have been, being completely in the grip of satan. The Lord’s reaction, as His whole activity in this event, is of a special nature and substance. He doesn’t start to swear or hit, but speaks to Judas with His Divine love for the last time. He addresses Judas with “friend”. Then He asks the revealing question: “What you have come for”? He offers Judas a last chance to reflect. But Judas is no longer reachable by any of His words. The crowd goes to Him, lays hands on Him and seize Him by force. It is as if they want to prevent Him from leaving. What foolish, nonsensical actions a man can come to if he is blind to the glory of Christ. He is the One Who gives them the power to perform their wicked deeds; He gives them the power to seize Him.

‏ Matthew 26:47-49

Judas Betrays the Lord

Judas is so close by that he appears on the scene while the Lord is still speaking. With his arrival he interrupts Him, as it were, in His teaching of the disciples. But the Lord is ready for it. Judas is emphatically named “one of the twelve”. It has been particularly painful for the Lord that it is someone from the company that He had gathered around Him and that has experienced Him so closely.

Judas doesn’t come alone. He heads up a large crowd armed with swords and clubs. It is this great crowd that has listened so often to the Lord and has been amazed by His words and has experienced His acts of blessing. They come because the chief priests and elders of the people have sent them. It is that easy to influence the crowd.

Judas, again called “he who was betraying Him”, had given them a sign to indicate Who they should seize. Was it possible that they would be mistaken with Him Who had been with them for so long? It was dark and the Lord was not a particularly remarkable Person when it comes to His outer appearance. The other disciples are men of His age group.

The agreed sign is the most painful sign that could be conceived. The kiss is a sign of love. Judas uses this sign of love to betray Him. He can no longer be stopped by anything and carries out his wicked and hypocritical work of betrayal. He kisses the Lord intimately. How hardened must the traitor have been, being completely in the grip of satan.

The Lord’s reaction, as His whole activity in this event, is of a special nature and substance. He doesn’t start to swear or hit, but speaks to Judas with His Divine love for the last time. He addresses Judas with “friend”. Then He asks the revealing question: “What you have come for”? He offers Judas a last chance to reflect. But Judas is no longer reachable by any of His words.

The crowd goes to Him, lays hands on Him and seize Him by force. It is as if they want to prevent Him from leaving. What foolish, nonsensical actions a man can come to if he is blind to the glory of Christ. He is the One Who gives them the power to perform their wicked deeds; He gives them the power to seize Him.