Betrayal

While Jesus was speaking to his friends in the garden a mob arrived, heavily tooled-up with knives and sticks.  Behind them were the religious leaders.  They wanted Jesus out of the way, but they wanted the mob to do the dirty work.  To make sure they got the right man they had bought one of Jesus’ friends and arranged a secret signal.  A kiss.

Whenever someone is arrested the tension is high. But Jesus had done nothing to deserve arrest.  He was unarmed and had no history of violence.  This arrest was totally unjustified.  It was purely political – a set-up for the cameras.

Mark 14: 43-46

While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “the man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely.” He came and immediately went over to him and said, “Rabbi.” And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him.