Spying in the Bible 28 - AD 33

The Judas Kiss

The next day was Thursday and is now referred to as Maundy Thursday. Again, Jesus’ foreknowledge could have saved him, but he knew it was his time to die, so he did not escape (John 13:21b-30).

Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

After his Last Supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples, which was on the Mount of Olives, to pray. While they were there, Judas identified Jesus to the officers of the temple guard by a prearranged clandestine sign of kissing him. From this, the term “Judas Kiss” or “the Kiss of Judas” has become a name for someone close who is a betrayer. Spying with the intent to end in the death or assassination of the target is referred to as “wet work”, or a “wet job” alluding to spilled blood. Therefore, this kiss of Judas was a wet one.

Jesus then made note of the leaders use of clandestine tactics and arresting him in private in the night, instead of in the middle of the day, like they should have if he was really leading a rebellion (John 18:1b-3, Mark 14:44-46, Luke 22:52-53).

Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons....

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him....

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

The next morning, at daybreak, Jesus went before the chief priests and the teachers of the law, in fact, the whole Sanhedrin. When Jesus admitted to being the son of God and king of the Jews, they brought him to Pontius Pilate, who was the Roman governor. However, Pilate had found no evidence of him breaking any Roman laws. When Pilate found out that Jesus was from Galilee Pilate decided Jesus was under Herod Antipater’s jurisdiction, so he sent Jesus to see Herod, who was also in Jerusalem for the festival. Herod found no cause for any charges so he sent him back to Pilate. Pilate gave in to the crowd and had Jesus crucified, which was one of the worst Roman methods of execution.

This crucifixion is remembered by Christians today and Good Friday. On the third day, Sunday, Jesus was raised from the dead, which is celebrated by Christians as Easter, which replaced the Jewish festival of Passover. Passover is a celebration of deliverance from slavery in Egypt, while Easter is a celebration of deliverance from the slavery of sin. Christians also moved the Sabbath day to Sunday in honor of Jesus’ resurrection, while the Jews keep their Sabbath on Saturday, being the seventh day of the week, remembering when God rested on the seventh day of creation. Later on the day of Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and began their ministries, forming the early Christian church, which was known as the Way. Christians now celebrate Pentecost as the day the disciples received the Holy Spirit and the Gospel, rather than the Jewish custom of celebrating it as the day the Israelites received the Ten Commandments, and the Law.