The Betrayal.
Matt. 26:47-50.
THE betrayer had already been pointed by Jesus, when they were sitting at the passover table, and he had gone out in the darkness of the night to accomplish his wicked designs. Jesus remained at the table with the eleven disciples, and instituted the Lord’s supper, and also spoke to them many blessed words of encouragement. The precious things recorded in five chapters, beginning with John 13, were all spoken in connection with that supper table, on that sorrowful night when Jesus was betrayed. And after these words were finished, Jesus had gone with His disciples into the garden of Gethsemane, where His holy soul, in communion with His Father, anticipated the sorrows involved in the cross. He had looked into the cup which He was about to drink, and the sight caused Him to sweat, as it were, great drops of blood. Oh! what a night of sorrow for the rejected King of Israel.
But now sorrow follows upon sorrow. His own “familiar friend’ had lifted up his heel against Him. One who had been His companion through the years of His ministry had joined the ranks of His enemies, and had sold Him for thirty pieces of silver. And now this traitor, Judas Iscariot, was coming, under cover of night, with a great multitude, with swords and with staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. He had given his followers a sign by which they should know Jesus: he would betray the Son of man with a kiss. Whomsoever he would kiss they were to seize and hold fast. This wretched traitor knew well the resorts of Jesus, and brought his band straight to Gethsemane, where Jesus had been pouring out His soul with strong crying and tears in the presence of His Father. With bold effrontery, energized by the power of Satan, who had entered into him, he, walked up to Jesus, and said “Hail Master; and kissed Him” (literally covered Him with kisses). Oh! the wickedness of that traitorous kiss. Jesus well knew it was the betrayer’s kiss, but He showed no resentment, and simply said to Judas: “Friend, wherefore art thou come?” He knew it was His Father’s will that He should suffer on the cross, and in Gethsemane He had said, “Not My will, but Thy will be done.” Blessed precious Saviour, what lowly and tender grace was His! He was indeed the eternal Word and Son of God, and in John 18:2-6 we learn that this wicked band of men were made to feel His power. He was the eternal I AM, and at the mention of this name, “they went backward, and fell to the ground.” And then He gave Himself up into their hands, and they took Him and went away.
Judas will never be able to plead that he did not know who Jesus was, for he had been a witness of His almighty power for three years, or more, and had listened to His wondrous words of love and grace. And that band of men who fell before Him at the mention of His name I AM, will not be able to plead ignorance either. They had felt His power, and quailed before it, and they will be dumb when called to stand in His presence another day. Jesus had not come for judgment then, but to save; and He gave Himself, that He might die. But a day will come by and by, when these same men will stand before Him, not as a Saviour, but as a Judge. Oh! what will Judas have to say in that day? And what will that band of men have to say then? Every one of them will be speechless.
And they will feel His power afresh, and go out from that presence into a dark, eternal night of despair. And how is. it with YOU, reader? Are you for Him, or against Him? And in that coming day, will He be for you, or AGAINST you? Oh! come to Him NOW, and be saved, so that it may be well with your soul, when judgment falls upon His enemies.
ML 03/18/1906