The Arrest 1 - Matt 26:47-50; Mark 14:43-46; Luke 22:47-48; John 18:2-3

Over the course of the last three to four hours, every sentient existence from the beginning of time throughout the universe has descended upon the Son of God, and he endured it long past the point that it would have killed anyone else. Now that that part is over, he stands up and walks over to where his disciples are sleeping and wakes them up because he can see the torches of the mob coming to arrest him, there will be no rest for him tonight. This mob approaches “with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.” It’s important to point out here that the arresting officers are Jews serving as a “police force” for the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem; there is no Roman involvement at this point. I had previous believed that the Romans were the ones that had come to arrest Jesus in the garden, but that’s not the case, this was Jewish business handled by Jewish appointees.

As the group approaches, low and behold, his very own disciples Judas is among them. We know that Jesus had foretold of his betrayal already and knew that it was Judas who would do it, but I wonder if, when he saw him, he felt another stab of hurt. Just because he knew it would happen, didn’t necessarily mean that it wouldn’t hurt his feelings when the time actually came. Before reaching Jesus, Judas had told the officers “whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.” I don’t really understand what is meant by “safely” but I wonder if it might mean “without hurting anyone,” because even though he wasn’t too fond of Jesus, he probably had friends among the other disciples and didn’t want them getting hurt.
Why a kiss though? In our society, that seems very odd, but the IM says, “During New Testament times, it was customary for men to greet each other with a kiss on the cheek. Such greetings were a symbol of respect, particularly when bestowed by a pupil upon a great rabbi. They communicated brotherhood and friendship.” Many other cultures around the world have the same kissing custom, kissing on the cheek, one, two, maybe even three times depending. It’s an intimate gesture. We aren’t big on touching in my family and for my brother or something to try and shake my hand, it would be really weird, and a hug? Forget it. The idea of giving even a cheek kiss to a family member is incredibly uncomfortable for me. But then I have friends where this is expected in their culture and so when they lean in for the kiss, it makes me feel accepted and valued as something in their life. So a kiss of greeting would have implied, “hey my friend, I’m so glad to see you.”
Judas had arranged for the officers to arrest whoever he identified as Jesus by the kiss, but why go to all that trouble? Why didn’t he just point him out from a far? Then he wouldn’t have to face Jesus or any of his friends personally, it could have been a very “anonymous” participation. It almost seems like Judas wanted Jesus to see him and know that he was the one who sold him out. It’s like when John Hancock allegedly said that he signed his name on the Declaration of Independence so large because he wanted King George to be able to read it without his spectacles. It’s more than just an act of rebellion, there is also a factor of “rubbing his face in it.” Maybe he wanted Jesus and all the disciples to know that he wasn’t who they thought he was. There must have been a significant power trip for Judas to be able to “take down” the most infamous man at the time. 
The other question might be why didn’t he just tap Jesus on the shoulder? Wouldn’t it have been more powerful to say, “it’s this guy right here! I got him.” Speculating of course, but it seems like Judas not only wanted to rub it in Jesus’ face that his friend didn’t believe him, but also wanted to put on a little show. It would be kind of like when the King of France was overthrown all those decades ago and they executed him, if right before he was killed they called him “your majesty.” Maybe Judas is saying, “oh revered teacher, I have the power over your life.” Now that’s a trip. Some of the things that I’ve read suggest that the kiss was a sarcastic gesture meant to signify to Jesus that Judas didn’t respect him as a leader. It’s likely that Jesus understood the mockery as the IM comments, “Thus, there was irony in Jesus’s words when He said to Judas, ‘Friend, wherefore art thou come?’, and ‘Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?’”
The whole incident with Judas Iscariot is interesting and sad, but I find it hopeful. Jesus did not need Judas to complete the atonement, he did not need to be “ratted out” to be arrested. If Judas hadn’t done what he’d done, then some other means would have been made available, maybe Jesus would have gone to Caiaphas’ house and turned himself in. Judas didn’t end the Savior’s life. His participation in the death of Jesus was inconsequential to everyone except himself, and he seemed to get the message of his betrayal very quickly. That’s why I feel that Judas didn’t fully understand what exactly selling out Jesus entailed. We know that Judas died before Jesus did, and I’d like to believe that when Jesus came through the veil that Judas was there waiting for him and begging his forgiveness and is now one of the great leaders in the kingdom. Why do I want that to be the case? Because I know that nothing cements loyalty like a betrayal, and because I feel like I’ve been Judas before during my life time. I’ve had to repent of some pretty awful things and I’ve had to recognize the fact that I did those things knowing full well that I wasn’t supposed to. Now that Jesus has taken me back, I have a life and peace like I never thought possible, and I want that same peace for him.