The Kiss
And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Matthew 26:50
Friend – Is the spirit of Judas a part of each of us? Oh, I know that we are quick to deny this. We don’t want to see the spirit of Judas lurking in the corners of our souls. We can’t believe that we would sell the Savior for a little material reward – until we see how vulnerable we are to self-sufficiency, self-protection and self-glorification. It doesn’t take much for us to think that we have to take care of ourselves, make our agendas happen and control our own destinies.
And it is all accomplished in the greatest of ironies – by giving the Lord a kiss.
In the New Testament, we do not find Hollywood’s version of the kiss. There are no erotic encounters. The kiss in the gospels is a kiss that indicates fidelity, loyalty, acknowledged honor and, most importantly, forgiveness. So, when Judas uses a kiss to betray Jesus, his act is much more than a simple indication. It is a symbolic denial of all that Jesus stands for, including Jesus’ divinity. This kiss is the biggest lie the world has ever known.
Perhaps that’s why scholars have so much trouble translating Jesus’ response to Judas’ act. This verse in Greek could be translated in many different ways. It might be, “Friend, why have you come?” But it seems quite unlikely that Jesus did not know Judas’ intention. It could be, “Friend, have you come for this?” But, again, the question seems inappropriate. It could be, “Friend, for this then you have come!” But Jesus’ attitude toward Judas does not seem to be hostile. It could be “Friend, do what you have come for.” This version captures the idea that Jesus knows what is really happening. But behind all of these possibilities is the first word, hetairos. You should be immediately surprised that Jesus does not use the word philos (friend, brother – a faithful companion). That is the word He commonly uses for His disciples. But here He says, “Hetaire.” This is someone who associates himself with a leader for the purpose of gaining advantage for himself. This is partner, a pupil, a colleague who acts as a friend but really has a personal agenda. This is the one who plays the role in order to take advantage of the relationship. This is the spirit of Judas – one who attaches himself to the Master to see what he can gain for himself. This is no true friend!
Look deeply into your relationship with the Lord. Is there a hetairos hidden under all that appropriate religious language? Jesus would know. A kiss cannot disguise the real motivation of the heart. Where you attach yourself to the King in order to get what you desire, you should hear the sound of thirty pieces of silver dropped in your pocket.
My dearest brothers and sisters, it is not about us! It is not about our desires, our agendas, our dreams or our needs. We follow the King for His glory, not ours. At the end of the day, the hetarios says, “But what’s in it for me?” while the true servant says, “I only did what was expected.”
