SOLOMON, the wisest of men, said, " Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful " (Prov. 27:6). Such was the first of three kisses spoken of in Scripture, to which I would draw the reader's attention.
It was THE KISS OF BETRAYAL.
Jesus had taken the last Passover supper with His beloved disciples, when the false and deceitful Judas, the son of perdition, having received the sop from the hand of his Master, Satan entered into him (John 13:27), and Jesus said, " That thou doest, do quickly." And he went immediately out, and it was night.
Jesus, as He was wont, went to the Mount of Olives. There He passes through agonies of soul, as He prays with deepest earnestness, whilst His disciples sleep. And behold, a multitude, with swords and staves, draw near to lay violent hands upon the spotless Christ of God. Judas, going before them, forthwith comes to Him, saying,” Master," and kissed Him, (Matt. 26:49). And Jesus said to him, " Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss." Then took they Him, and led Him, and brought Him before the judgment seat.
His hour had now come. Falsely charged at both Jewish and Gentile bar, surrounded with bitter foes clamoring for His blood, the only Perfect One that ever trod this scene is consigned by the grossest injustice, with every mark of dark dishonor heaped upon Him, to a felon's death (Matt. 26, 27.). Thus man consummated his guilt, and the world henceforth stands charged at the bar of God with the rejection and murder of His Son.
But this crowning act of man's perfidy and wickedness, the crucifixion of Christ, was the channel for the outflow of the love and grace of God. On that cross He bore the judgment of God against sin, drinking the bitter cup to the very dregs. God hid His face from His Beloved, and eternal redemption was obtained in the shedding of His precious blood (Heb. 9:12). Buried in the grave, He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, and now sits at God's right hand, His work done, henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool (Heb. 10:13).
In His blessed name, pardon and salvation are proclaimed to all. In the long-suffering of God, He still lingers there, but the moment fast approaches when He shall come forth in power and great glory, accompanied with the angels of His might, and avenge Himself of His adversaries, treading His foes as ashes beneath His feet. Take heed, therefore, sinner, to the words of the Psalmist, addressed to the great of this world, but surely having a moral application to all, " Be wise now therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are «11 They that put their trust in him” (Psa. 2:10-12). This is
THE KISS OF PEACE.
Have you kissed Him? A kiss is a token of affection and love. Do you love Him? And do you know His love? Are you still ranged on the world's side, with your heart and mind filled with enmity against Him, or is it peace? If still amongst His foes, beware! He will break them that day with a rod of iron. He shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel (Psa. 2:9). “Be wise now therefore.... Kiss the Son." It is not yet too late, but to-morrow may be. Be wise now. Now is God's time. True wisdom is to kiss the Son. Be instructed now. "Blessed are all they,” adds the Psalmist, "that put their trust in him.” Thenceforth ye shall be wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Him.
He is ready to judge (1 Peter 4:5). "Behold,” saith the Scriptures,” the Judge standeth before the door” (James 5:9). All judgment is committed unto the Son. But He is yet a Saviour, pleading still with sinners, “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40). Oh, come then, poor sinner, to the Saviour now-make no delay. “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little." He died, that we might not perish, but have everlasting life. He is worthy of your love, for it was for sinners Jesus died. Think of His love that led Him from the glory to the cross. Be wise. Be instructed. Kiss the Son. Kiss Him now, and henceforth you are amongst the ranks of the blessed. For “blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." And instead of coming into judgment, you shall be found amongst the myriads of the redeemed, who, raised or changed, shall be caught up to meet Him in the air, when He first comes, as He will, to claim His own (1 Thess. 4:15-18).
But not only is there deliverance from judgment through Him, and peace, but God welcomes, reconciles, and lavishes upon all that come to Him all that love can devise. This is beautifully illustrated in the familiar story of the prodigal son. A dissatisfied, selfish spendthrift, reduced to the greatest poverty and misery, comes to himself, and returns, after long absence, to a loving father, confessing his sin. The father, whose heart is occupied with his long lost son, saw him when yet a great way off, and having compassion, ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. This was THE KISS OF RECONCILIATION.
His eye saw him; his heart was filled with compassion; his feet ran; his arms embraced; and his lips covered him with kisses.
And this is the manner of the welcome that every sinner receives from God Himself, who comes back to Him, in self-judgment. Have you come? Sinner you are, sinner in your sins, but only return to Him, and in the tender compassion of His loving heart, He will cast around you His everlasting arms, and kiss you with the kisses of His mouth,— blessed token of your reconciliation to Him. But the riches of a Father's grace stop not there. The best robe, the ring, the shoes, the fattest calf, the lordly feast, merriment, music, and dancing, are the manifold expressions of the delight and joy of the heart of the father in the case of the return of his long lost son. And so also, the sinner reconciled to God is clad with heaven's best robe, the righteousness of God, His Christ, sealed with the Holy Ghost (2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 4:30); fitted to walk before Him, to share communion with Him and the enjoyment of heavenly merriment at His festal board.
Beloved reader, is this portion yours? If not, why not? Oh, that like this poor prodigal, you may come to yourself, and return, saying, “I have sinned," that God may lavish His grace upon you. If you follow the world, you must reap its portion, but kiss the Son, and you are delivered from wrath; return in self-judgment, and the kiss of everlasting reconciliation with God will be yours.
E. H. C.