Maundy Thursday 9.45pm

Thursday
9:45pm   

The Kiss

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.’ At once he came up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him.  Jesus said to him ‘Friend, do what you are here to do.’ Then they came and laid hands of Jesus and arrested him.  Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand of his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more that twelve legions of angels?  But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?’  At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all his has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.’ The all the disciples deserted  him and fled. (Matthew 26: 47-56)

Jesus knew his betrayer and the disciples looked on in horror as Judas walked out of the crowd and kissed Jesus, and the soldiers descended on him.  A kiss. It was the worst thing he could have done.  A kiss.  The forces of darkness are at work.