|
|
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Do you betray with a kiss? March 28, 2010 |
A daily |
Frontline Devotion for Sunday, March 28 2010 by Susan Hill
Luke 22: 47 - 48 He [Judas] approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?”
The Taking of Christ - Caravaggio
Evidently Judas acts against Jesus when he judges that the time is just right to accomplish his betrayal. If he moves in on Jesus while he is praying privately in the garden, Judas schemes, there won’t be a sympathetic Palm Sunday type crowd nearby to protect Jesus. So under cover of darkness, Judas seizes the opportunity and leads a group of chief priests, temple police officers, and elders to Jesus’ hide-away so they might arrest him. It’s a set-up! Judas catches Jesus unaware, attempts to disarm him with a traditional kiss of respect, and, according to his devious plan, hands holy Jesus over to his enemies for persecution like some common criminal.
It’s ironic. Though Judas’ precise timing seems to work for his evil purposes, the text suggests otherwise. Jesus already knows what’s coming! Satan tempts Judas, but God informs Jesus. Yes, the insincerity of Judas’ kiss surprises and saddens Jesus, but the betrayal is unfolding under God’s watch. Human time and God’s time are “in sync” even though the scene is evil and chaotic. According to Luke’s text, Judas’ dark “hour” is limited in time by God’s ultimate power. Jesus’ suffering or passion has arrived, and he must bear it for the sake of God’s people, but Jesus tells his persecutors that they will not have the last word; “…from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
I think Carravaggio’s painting, The Taking of Christ (see above), depicts Jesus’ painful but resolute resignation to God’s will. Disappointment and sadness are evident on Jesus’ face at the precise moment of Judas’ kiss of death, but Jesus remains faithful to God’s will. Though he pleaded just a few minutes earlier, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me,” Jesus surrendered to God’s time, praying, “… not my will but yours be done.” All this was accomplished for our sinful sakes.
As we enter Holy Week, we remember Jesus’ passion and death. In addition, Holy Week is an opportune time to acknowledge the darkness to which Judas surrendered his better nature. Disappointingly, evil still drives us human disciples to betray God’s holy purposes for our good. Because Jesus accepted Judas’ kiss of death, however, and bore its painful consequences, our sins are forgiven. Unlike Judas, we get a second chance. Let’s give that truth time to sink in this Holy Week as we worship and prepare ourselves for Easter; the time when the kiss of death is overcome by God’s magnificent, unending grace.
Holy Lord Jesus, we pray that you will bless our worship and remembrance during this Holy Week. Thank you for forgiving and sustaining us in all we do. Send us out to serve as you have taught us. We pray all this in your holy name, Amen.