Luke 22:47-53 - Enduring Hypocrisy, More Betrayal, Blessing our Enemies, Accused Wrongly

Enduring Hypocrisy and More Betrayal

“While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

A kiss is an expression of affection. However, Judas betrayed Jesus and had Him arrested by greeting Him with a kiss, which was highly hypocritical and deceptive. Indeed, what hypocrisy! In this situation, Judas probably greeted Jesus in the same manner in which he had always done so as a friend, but this time, it was to betray Him! A sign of affection became a sign of betrayal.

Once in a while, very good friends will turn their backs on us completely, so completely as a matter of fact that they will even go as far as to cause us great harm. This is very very painful but it’s part of the Cross.

We may find ourselves having to endure hypocrisy from what used to be good friends but also from other people such as our enemies and the enemies of God as well as family members and anyone else we know. We need patience to put up with the foolishness of others; by the way, in our case, it works out our patience. How many times did Jesus have to put up with others’ foolishness during His life?

Doing Good to those Who Harm Us

“When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.”

This passage has always amazed me in that Jesus healed the ear of one of His enemies. He gave us an example on how we are to do good to our enemies and not harm them.

Yes, right in the midst of harm and persecution, we are to do good to our enemies and bless them. “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44,45a)

For mere human beings such as us, that is very hard to do. Most of the time we’d rather revenge ourselves against our wrongdoers rather then do them good. By ourselves, this is impossible, but with God’s grace, it is possible. We must ask Him to fill us with His unconditional love.

The whole process hurts because it goes totally against our human nature but we are not to do our own will but God’s Will. We must submit to His Will no matter how much it hurts; it ‘s all part of the Cross.

Finding Ourselves Accused or Arrested for Righteousness’ Sake

“Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns."

The perfect Son of Man was arrested like a criminal, as if He were a wrongdoer. Throughout history, Christians have often been seen as wrongdoers to the point of being persecuted and arrested, even martyred themselves.

As Christians, we are often looked upon as ‘weird’ by the people of this world who don’t understand. The disciples of the Lord are often accused by non-Christians of being intolerant to their way of life and thinking. On the other hand, if not non-Christians, religious people will sometimes accuse, even arrest true Christians because they refuse to submit to their way of thinking or set of rules.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20) This passage in Isaiah is an accurate reflection of what is going on.