Luke 22:48 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

NIV: but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

NASB: But Jesus said to him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'

CSB: but Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

NLT: But Jesus said, 'Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?'

KJV: But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss

NKJV: But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

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).

Luke 22:47–53 records Jesus' betrayal by Judas and arrest by members of the Sanhedrin. After spending years trying to destroy Jesus, the religious leaders have found an ally in one of His disciples. Judas leads soldiers and servants to where Jesus spends His nights. The arrest will be in the dark, away from the crowds. Peter, quick to prove his loyalty, cuts off a servant's ear. Jesus heals it and allows Himself to be taken. Jesus' arrest is also recorded in Matthew 26:47–56, Mark 14:43–50, and John 18:2–12.

Luke 22 is a long chapter which records events leading to Jesus' political trials and crucifixion. He has successfully taught crowds at the temple and proved His authority over the religious leaders (Luke 19:47—20). Meanwhile the leaders have spent the week planning to arrest Jesus and have Him killed (Luke 19:47–48). This chapter records the Last Supper, the arrest on the Mount of Olives, and the trials before the Jewish religious leaders. Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 18 cover much of the same information.

Luke 23 continues Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod Antipas. He is then led to the cross where He forgives His murderers and saves a thief before He dies. In Luke 24, Jesus rises from the dead, meets two disciples while they travel, and explains to them how the Old Testament prophesied the death of the Messiah. In the final scene of the gospel, Jesus is reunited with His disciples, blesses them, and ascends into heaven.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.