The Kiss Of Judas: Its Meaning

The kiss of Judas Iscariot refers to the kiss which he gave Jesus to identify him (Jesus) to those who would take him (Jesus).

What the kiss means to anyone in particular depends upon their understanding of the story.

On the one hand are God, Jesus, and Judas—the primary, secondary, and tertiary deliverers of Jesus. (Romans 8:32; Galatians 1:4; Luke 22:48.)

Note: “Betray” is a mistranslation of the evangelists in all of the Gospels. They wrote "deliver" or “hand over,” a verb which did not connote an act of treachery.

On the other hand is the world of humankind who are opposed to that thing of God. (Mark 8:33)

God gave Judas to Jesus. (John 13:2,3)

Judas was lost. (John 6:70,71; 12:6; 17:12)

God scheduled Jesus to raise up Judas again at the last day. (John 6:39)

Just before the last day, Judas trespassed against Jesus when he made a covenant to hand him over to the chief priests, after the devil put it into his heart. (Mark 14:10,11; John 13:2)

Then, at the last day, Jesus raised Judas up again when he washed him clean. (John 13:1-15)

The world of humankind who are opposed to the handing over of Jesus never received a Jesus who was able to raise up Judas again.

In other words, though they have done many wonderful works in the name of Jesus, they never received Jesus. (Matthew 7:22; John 5:43)

Being themselves opposed to those things of God, they judged that Satan must have induced Judas to do the thing of God. (John 13:27)

In fact, Satan induced their judgment. (Matthew 7:2; John 16:8-11)

For these then, the kiss of Judas is the most ignominious act of treachery in the history of the world.

But for God, Jesus, and Judas—and anyone who understands that Jesus washed Judas clean—the kiss of Judas is a show of great compassion on the part of Judas for his savior.

Jesus said, “Judas, do you hand over the son of man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48)

The words of Jesus did not refer to an act of treachery as the world has supposed, but they referred only to the irony of the thing when viewed from the perspective of the world.

I say these things only in my own name.