What does Luke 22:48 mean?

Judas led a squad of temple guards to the Mount of Olives so they can arrest Jesus. It's dark. There would have been many people sleeping on the Mount; the soldiers don't know which one is Jesus. This would have been common in an era long before photography. Jesus' enemies need Judas so they can recognize which shadow is their target.

Judas has already coordinated with the guards, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard" (Mark 14:44). Jesus, however, stops him short.

Jesus often referred to Himself as the "Son of Man." He is fully God and in His incarnation He is fully man. He must be human to pay for the sins of humanity, and He must resurrect with a human body to redeem our own physical forms.

But that's not the only reason Jesus is the Son of Man. He is also the figure Daniel spoke of. One day, He will return from heaven, surrounded by clouds (Acts 1:9–11). The Ancient of Days—God the Father—will give Him authority over the earth "that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him." His reign will not end at the millennium, but it will continue for eternity (Daniel 7:13–14).

This is the Person Judas is betraying in return for a bag of money. The other disciples will run and hide when Jesus is arrested. Yet Jesus will restore them and give them thrones from which they will judge the tribes of Israel (Luke 22:28–30). The timing is uncertain—they think it will be sooner rather than later—but Judas can't even wait that long. Jesus' words mean nothing to Judas. The miracles He performed didn't line Judas's pockets. This moment does. Jesus knows this and tells Judas, "Friend, do what you came to do" (Matthew 26:50).

It appears, however, that Judas doesn't know the full plan of the priests who paid him. He hasn't thought beyond Jesus' arrest. When he finds out the Sanhedrin wants to execute Jesus, he never recovers from the shame and grief (Matthew 27:3–5).