Interesting questions about that “kiss,” you posted there!! Bravo !!
I don’t think any symbolism was intended, in this case, in the gospel account(s) of the kiss, just to disclose the hypocrisy of Judas.
Judas KNEW that JESUS KNEW that he was going to betray him.
About a year before, Judas was already a practicing thief. That whole year before,
Jesus publicly stated to The Twelve,
“Did I not choose you, the twelve? YET ONE OF YOU IS A DEVIL.”
Already IS, not “is going to become a devil.” Judas had to know that he was
referring to him. The others may have been rude, bombastic, naiive, but they
were not out and out devils. Judas was already stealing, not like Robin Hood robbing from the wealthy (which is still a sin), but even worse, stealing from a dear friend whom he KNEW to possess the powerful and healing (Literally) Spirit of the LORD, and who had given HIM those same miracle working powers (Judas and the other 11 were given those powers by Jesus when he sent them out two-by-two to evangelize, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead. In spite of that overwhelming supernatual activity and holiness that he had seen IN JESUS, and been given some of BY JESUS, Judas had the CHUTZPAH to be regularly stealing from this God-filled Man (even if he didn’t know yet that Christ was the Second Person of the Trinity), who was his FRIEND, and from the other 11, who were also his FRIENDS. He could have just ASKED Jesus for some of the money, he probably would have said Yes.
The “kiss” was given, as Judas told the priests and temple police, as a sign to THEM
that, despite the darkness, THIS was the man they really wanted to arrest and kill.
Plus, he may have kissed Jesus to avoid the other apostles, especially Peter, lunging at him and attacking him.
At the Last Supper, he had the temerity, already having planned the betrayal and fully intending to carry it out, to ask Jesus, “Surely you don’t mean ME, do you Lord??”
And Jesus told him, Friend, do quickly what you have to do.
Judas knew that Jesus KNEW he was the one turning him over to those who planned to kill him. Note: Judas always KNEW that these men INTENDED to KILL Jesus.
He wasn’t caught by surprise by the Sanhedrin’s verdict, no, he was seized with remorse because the Devil, who had entered him fully at the Last Supper, turned his own mind against him, overwhelming him with the enormity of his wickedness.
But JUDAS PLANNED THIS WHOLE THING OF HIS OWN VOLITION, planned it AND carried it out.
If it was just the money he wanted, he HAD IT already. The priests gave it to him IN ADVANCE. A year’s wages!!! PLUS he had the stolen money from the common purse that HE kept for Jesus and the 12, that he regularly stole from (says Johns gospel).
He didn’t have to keep his promise to the Priests. He had the money. He was home free.
He could have double-crossed the priests, left Jerusalem, and gone to one of the many villages in Israel with his betrayal money and his stolen money, and started a new life and left Jesus the hell alone. NOPE. He deliberately, freely, willingly, eagerly, maliciously, led those men to Jesus. Had he left town and moved away, it’s highly unlikely he would have been found. Just remember: he didn’t HAVE to do this, even AFTER getting paid by the temple priests. He did it entirely ON PURPOSE.
The kiss? Jesus knew it was a phony act of respect, Good day dear Rabbi, indeed.
He led a mob there armed with swords and clubs and torches. An armed MOB. He didn’t care if he got all TWELVE killed in the process, but he especially wanted to identify Jesus, and hence the kiss, as a sign that this was the BIG FISH they were after.
