BETRAYED BY A KISS

PROCLAMATION

“And he that betrayed Him had given them a token, saying, ‘Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He; take Him, and lead Him away safely.’  And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to Him, and saith, ‘Master, master;’ and kissed Him.  And they laid their hands on Him, and took Him.”  Mark 14:44-46 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to Mark, a companion Simon Peter.  Two days before The Passover, and the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the chief priest and the teachers of the law conspired as to how they might arrest Jesus and kill Him. (Mark 14:1-2)  While He was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume approached Him and poured the perfume on His head.  Some of those there with Him were indignant and rebuked her thinking that the perfume could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor. (Mark 14:3-5)  Jesus rebuked them and said that she had done a good thing to Him.  She had come beforehand to anoint His body for burial. (Mark 14:6-9)  Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus. (Mark 14:10-11)  When Jesus was asked where He wanted to go to eat the Passover, He told them to go into town and follow a man carrying a water jar and ask the owner of the house that he enters if they may eat there.  Two of the disciples went to town and found the man as Jesus had said.  The owner of the house the man entered had a large room upstairs which they could use. (Mark 14:12-16)  As they were eating, Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him.  (Mark 14:17-21)   After Jesus had eaten the Passover meal, He and His disciples went to a place called Gethsemane.  While He was there praying, Judas led a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs, who were sent by the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes, to arrest Jesus.  Judas greeted Jesus and kissed Him, then the men seized Jesus and arrested Him. (Mark 14:32-50)

 

APPLICATION

Judas was one of the twelve disciples who had been with Jesus for three years and yet he betrayed Him with a kiss for thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-15)  Sometimes those who are close to you will sell you out for their personal gain.  Also, everyone who kisses you may not have good intentions.  Our circle of friends and followers may include some who do not have our best interest at heart.  When we pray, we should ask The Lord God for discernment in order to determine who is sincere and who is deceitful.  “Smiling faces sometimes tell lies.” (Undisputed Truth)