Luke 22:48 (CSB)
“But Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’”
This egregious betrayal wasn’t enacted by cutting Jesus with a sword. It was a kiss.
That’s what makes this betrayal sting.
Judas didn’t show up with accusations—he showed up with affection… not with fists—but with familiarity.
He blended in with the disciples. He sat at the table. He dipped his hand in the bowl.
He heard Jesus say, “One of you will betray me,”… and no one suspected him.
That’s how subtle betrayal can be. You can play the part, say the words, and still have your heart sold to something else.
Judas didn’t just slip. He schemed.
The betrayal didn’t begin in the garden—it began in the heart. Somewhere along the way, Jesus became less satisfying… and the silver became more appealing.
Thirty pieces of silver.
The cost of a slave. That’s what he traded the Savior for.
But here’s what makes this so hard to fathom—
Jesus still called him friend. Jesus still washed his feet. Jesus still let him sit close enough to kiss Him.
Because Jesus never stopped being gracious… even to the one who betrayed Him.
And now it’s our turn to ask hard questions.
Do we want Jesus for who He is—or for what He might give us?
Are we worshiping—or are we negotiating? Because betrayal doesn’t always come with venom. Sometimes it comes with a kiss.
A kiss of convenience.
A kiss that says, I’ll follow You… as long as You meet my expectations or do what I ask..
Takeaway: The greatest danger isn’t being hated by the world—it’s faking loyalty to Jesus while loving something else more.
Don’t give Him your lips, words, or empty reverence. Give Him your devotion.
