With a Kiss! : Matthew 26:47-50 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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With a Kiss! - Matthew 26:47-50

Key Thought

Betrayed in the garden of prayer.
Betrayed by a kiss.
Betrayed by a friend.
Unfortunately, betrayal in God's family did not end with Judas. Betrayal by a Christian friend and confidant didn't stop when the moisture from Judas' kiss on Jesus' cheek dried. Unfortunately, betrayal in what is supposed to be a place of safety and spiritual nurture didn't end when Judas hung himself.
Have you been betrayed by someone you thought was a friend in Christ? Have you been undercut by someone who was supposed to be a loyal confidant? Have you been wounded in what is supposed to be a place of spiritual safety?
If you have, you know the wounds a friend can leave when he or she no longer is a friend! You know the pain of Gethsemane.
But if this is your story, remember it is also Jesus' story. For you, for us, the story of Matthew's Gospel finishes with a powerful two-point message. First, watch Jesus as he is betrayed, denied, and forsaken by his most beloved friends. He is a pioneer for us on how to handle the agony of betrayal and abandonment. Second, speak honestly to Jesus about your wounds and hurts. He knows and understands not only because he is Divine, but also because he has been in our world with real human skin and longs to comfort and help you and me in our times of heartbreak.

Today's Prayer

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Almighty God, please help me never be the one who abandons a brother or sister in Christ in their time of greatest need. I know I can fall because I have fallen to other weaknesses at other times. And Father, help me to forgive those who have wounded and abandoned me in my times of crisis. Cleanse my heart of bitterness and resentment so that I can be more like Jesus, who was abandoned so that I would never ever be completely forgotten, forsaken, or alone. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

While Jesus was still speaking, Judas came there. Judas was one of the twelve followers. Judas had many people with him. These people were sent from the leading priests and the older leaders of the people. These people with Judas had swords and clubs. Judas planned to do something to show the people which man was Jesus. Judas said, "The man I kiss is Jesus. Arrest him." So Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hello, teacher!" Then Judas kissed Jesus. Jesus answered, "Friend, do the thing you came to do." Then the men came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him. When that happened, one of the followers with Jesus grabbed his sword and pulled it out. This follower hit the servant of the high priest with the sword and cut off his ear. Jesus said to the man, "Put your sword back in its place. People that use swords will be killed with swords. Surely you know I could ask my Father and he would give me more than twelve armies of angels. But this thing must happen this way so that it will be like the Scriptures said." Then Jesus said to all the people, "You came to get me with swords and clubs like I am a criminal. Every day I sat in the temple area teaching. You did not arrest me there. But all these things have happened so that it will be like the prophets wrote." Then all of Jesus' followers left him and ran away.

— Matthew 26:47-56 (ERV)

123132: God With Us: 365 Devotionals from the Gospel of Matthew

God With Us:
365 Devotionals from the Gospel of Matthew
By Phil Ware

Join the author of the Gospel of Matthew in God With Us, a devotional that will immerse you in exploring the glories of Immanuel. The book uses one short passage each day and follows the Gospel text from beginning to end. Each day's passage is followed by a brief Reflection to open up the day's Scripture and a Prayer to show how the verses challenge you to live for Jesus.

Comments on "With a Kiss!":

Get Phil's book God With Us featuring 365 Devotionals from the Gospel of Matthew.

God is the One who made all things. And all things are for his glory. God wanted to have many people to be his children and share his glory. So God did what he needed to do. He made perfect the One (Jesus) who leads those people to salvation. God made Jesus {a} perfect {Savior} through Jesus' suffering. The One (Jesus) who makes people holy and those people who are made holy are from the same family. So he (Jesus) is not ashamed to call those people his brothers and sisters. Jesus says, "God, I will tell my brothers {and sisters} about you. Before all your people I will sing your praises." He also says, "I will trust in God." And he says, "I am here. And with me are the children that God has given me." Those children are people with physical bodies. So Jesus himself became like those people and had the same experiences people have. Jesus did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death. That one is the devil. Jesus became like those people and died so that he could free them. They were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. Clearly, it is not angels that Jesus helps. Jesus helps the people who are from Abraham. For this reason Jesus had to be made like us his brothers and sisters in every way. Jesus became like people so that he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then Jesus could bring forgiveness for the people's sins. And now Jesus can help those people who are tempted. Jesus is able to help because he himself suffered and was tempted. —Hebrews 2:10-18 (ERV)

While Jesus was speaking, a group of people came. One of the twelve apostles was leading the group. He was Judas. Judas came close to Jesus so that he could kiss Jesus. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you using the kiss {of friendship} to give the Son of Man {to his enemies}?" —Luke 22:47-48 (ERV)

Don't be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If another person does something wrong against you, then forgive that person. Forgive other people because the Lord forgave you. —Colossians 3:13 (ERV)