“The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.” - Matthew 26:48-49
One can hardly find a more prominent symbol of treachery in history than Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss—Julias Ceasar, perhaps. In the moment he was being stabbed to death by the Senate, he turned to his friend Brutus, “Et Tu Brute?” With those famous words, Brutus, too, slew his friend.
Brutus with a knife. Judas with a kiss.
Jesus was not unaware of the coming betrayal. In Matthew 26:23-25 he shows his knowledge of the impending events. Judas later comprehends, with remorse, the depth of the crime he has committed.
“When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse… “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man”…Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.” - Matthew 27:3-5
How could Peter deny Jesus three times and be restored, but not Judas? Was Judas’s betrayal no worse than Peter’s denial? There’s no indication that had Judas repented, meaning his guilt couldn’t have been cleansed. Peter deserted Jesus but was restored through Christ’s forgiveness. Judas betrayed Jesus but died in the hardiness of worldly remorse. What made the difference?
Judas moved towards Jesus with a kiss, but it was an empty parade with no intimacy. Peter publicly disowned Jesus, but it was an empty rejection filled with longing to be close. Both men were filled with shame. Yet, Peter draws near to the Lord and allows the Lord to reinstate him (John 21), while Judas does not turn to the Lord to receive grace.
In Jesus’ story, it’s important to observe that we all are unworthy. Jesus takes center stage in this drama and eclipses all our tragedies. Jesus’ story is about the boundlessness of his grace despite our sins. It’s all about Jesus and not about us. Judas’s tragedy is that he couldn’t see that.
Judas was adrift in a sea of self-absorption. His eyes were stuck on himself and his unworthiness. Jesus restores repentant sinners: the soldier, the thief next to him, the crowd shouting at him, his scared disciple Peter, and his doubting disciple Thomas. His love is a hand that reaches into our blackest darkness, but Judas could not see to take his hand.
This is an important lesson for us. Do not let your sin eclipse your Savior. Do not let the sallowness of your sin resist the vitality of God’s grace. Let it propel you, in a new way, into needing Jesus, trusting Jesus, and receiving the life and love of Jesus. Yes, sin is costly. Repent. Grieve it–but always with your eye on the priceless Savior who is still holding his arms out to you to keep growing into his incredible love.
