Kiss of Judas

The Kiss

Sculpture in the garden of old Caesarea Maritima, Israel.

                A tall, green, unusual sculpture attracted my attention while walking through the "food court" of old, royal city of Caesarea Maritima on the blue Mediterranean sea. I don't remember its title, if indeed one was affixed, but it did remind me of a painting my wife and I saw at the Belvedere Palace art museum in Vienna. (Actually it was a painting we especially went there to view.) It was that well-known painting entitled "The Kiss" by the Austrian painter Gustav Klimt. This was a gold, glittering creation of a loving relationship between a man and a woman.

                The whole atmosphere of Klimt's work contrasts so markedly with the scene , as I picture it, of Judas kissing his master who was then arrested and taken off to his trial. In the garden, the scene of Jesus' arrest, it was dark with the torches of the arresting soldiers casting eerie shadows. Shadows played on Jesus' tired face. The flickering light picked out an emotionally shattered man. Hiding in semi-darkness, behind the light, was the shifty figure of Judas. Judas was leading those who arrested Jesus. Mark relates how this would be carried out. He writes, (Mark 14:44)  Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. 'The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.'

                That he was arrested and executed is now history. Throughout the Christian world, but not only there, people are aware of the story that Judas, a friend and follower of Jesus, betrayed him with a kiss. We have our information of this from the Gospels of the New Testament. Let's see exactly what these sources have to say.

                Mark 14:45-46. Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him.

                Matthew 26:49-50. Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for" (or "Friend, why have you come?"). Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

                Luke 22:47. He (Judas) approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"  Then after the scuffle when the ear of the servant of the high priest was cut off and Jesus asked his captors why they didn't do this in the temple courts, they seized him and lead him away.

                Finally John 18:3-8. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"

"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied.

"I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.

Again he asked them, " "Who is it you want?"

And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

"I told you, I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go."

Then later in verse 12: Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus.

Mosaic in the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane.

After reading the four relevant passages, one is left with two conflicting scenarios. The three synoptic Gospels indicate that Judas kissed Jesus (Matthew and Mark) or was about to (Luke). This was enacting a previously arranged plan which Judas had organised with those who were to arrest Jesus. John however has no mention of a kiss of betrayal. It is Jesus who takes the initiative. He approached the soldiers and then handed himself over to them. It reflects what Paul also understood when he wrote  in Ephesians: Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

                No, no mention of a kiss in John's Gospel. It would be hard to see how a kiss would be meaningful in his version of events.

                As we are all well aware, general consensus has gone with the synoptic gospels and the kiss of Judas has become an integral part of the passion story and firmly entrenched in the minds of ensuing generations. With Easter fast approaching I am sure all Christians who choose to attend a church service during this time will once again hear of the kiss of Judas. After all, this adds much more drama to the story.

                Whether it was a dastardly betrayal which involved a kiss or simply an event in which one of Jesus' followers aided in the handing over of Jesus to the soldiers, is immaterial in the final result. Jesus was taken and lead off to his earthly end.

                I read one commentator who suggested that Mark was describing what might have happened and John was presenting his thoughts on what should have happened. I wonder what really did happen?