Opening Prayer
Patient Lamb of God, grant us to be of like mind with You. Amen.
Text: Matthew 26:49–54
Then immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”
Devotion
Let us remember this: Jesus was betrayed with a kiss, the expression and sign of love, of close friendship and mutual respect. The betrayer stood that close to Him. “But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng” (Psa 55:13-14). The devil entered Judas and he kisses Jesus. The Lord accepts the kiss. Could He have been more deeply humbled? Could He have shown more meekness? What is more, after the kiss He still speaks words of mercy to Judas: “Friend, why have you come? Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” His words are not hypocrisy or bitterness. He still wants to rescue the unfortunate man. Jesus is betrayed with a kiss from His closest friend; that is truly diabolical. But the Lord accepted the kiss with such perfect meekness and love that the devil could not pour one drop of the poison of his wrath and deceit into His holy soul.
The Son of Man thus suffers for falsehood and hypocritical faithfulness. Behold, that is divine, and that is incredible comfort and grace for us. It is done as atonement for all the lying and anger harbored in our poor hearts and with which our sinful lives are so filled. Now the devil shall never be able to accuse me because of my hypocritical heart or the falsehood which was found and to my shame still is found in my dealings. Now no one whom Satan has led into lying and faithlessness and deceit shall have to continue with such sins on his conscience, if he will simply confess them. But now none of us shall continue in such things any more, for Christ has freed us from the ways of the devil. Out into the light with everything! Lay your soul and your life before the Lord with all the inclination to lying you find in your flesh – and “the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1Jo 1:7). The devil must be put to shame with his most cunning masterpiece. God be praised!
Closing Prayer
Yes, we thank You, Lord Jesus, that You accepted Judas’ kiss. You have thereby given me an unspeakably great and sweet comfort. I fall down at Your feet and will gladly lie eternally at the foot of Your throne and thank You for all the bitterness You tasted for me and took away from me. Faithful Savior, give me the light and grace of Your Holy Spirit to believe in You. Amen.
Hymn
Darkness covers ev’ry nation,
Trial now is close at hand,
Darkness battles with the sunshine;
Jesus, taken by the band.
Such a night was ne’er before!
Heav’n itself has barred the door!
Jesus, all our Light and Sunshine,
Now doth bear the shame of nighttime.
Judas the betrayer taketh
Darkness’ weapon willingly
And in league with Satan maketh
All that in his heart did lie:
He the rabble gathered here
Bringing rogues and scoundrels near
They shall serve his wicked purpose
Even in the high priest’s service.
Torch and lanterns now are burning
Straight from Satan’s raging fire;
Spear and cudgel all are yearning
As they now are drunk with ire:
Yet no torch nor club nor spear
Captures Jesus even here,
But a kiss, so dear in fashion,
Now betrays Him to His Passion.
Kingo: Mørket skjuler Jorderige L319:1-3 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Freu dich sehr (ELH 256); alternate hymn: Hail, Thou once-despised Jesus ELH 270:1