Matthew 26:47-51: a reflection

47While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.” 49Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

In the very moment of betrayal, when Judas comes to hand him over with a kiss, Jesus addresses him with a word of astonishing grace and restraint: Friend, why are you here? Judas came to Jesus and said, greetings, Rabbi, and kissed him, the account says; but Jesus said to him, Friend, why are you here? Judas was betraying Jesus, handing him over to those who came to seize him, using a kiss, a sign of affection and friendship, as the very signal of betrayal. It was the deepest treachery. And yet Jesus, knowing exactly what Judas was doing, does not answer with a curse or condemnation; he calls him Friend, a word of grace and restraint, even in that moment a kind of appeal. Christ's grace reached even to the one betraying him. This shows Christ's grace and restraint reaching even to his betrayer. Christ's grace reached even to the one betraying him, calling him Friend. Even toward his betrayer, Christ shows restraint and a last appeal. Christ did not answer betrayal with a curse, but with grace. Behold the grace of Christ, reaching even to those who wrong him deeply.

Notice how Jesus addresses Judas in the moment of betrayal. Judas came leading an armed crowd to seize Jesus, and used a kiss, the very sign of friendship and affection, as the signal to identify him for arrest. It is hard to imagine a deeper treachery: betraying with a kiss, turning a sign of love into the instrument of betrayal, handing over the one who had been his teacher and companion. Jesus knew exactly what was happening; he was not deceived. And how does he respond? Not with a curse, not with condemnation, not with a cry of outrage, but with a word: Friend, why are you here? Even in the moment of the deepest betrayal, Jesus addresses his betrayer as Friend, a word of grace and restraint, even, perhaps, a last appeal to Judas's conscience. This reveals the depth of Christ's grace. His grace and restraint reached even to the one betraying him, at the very moment of the betrayal. He did not meet treachery with a curse, but with a word of grace; he did not condemn even the one handing him over, but called him Friend. This is astonishing grace, reaching even to those who wrong Christ most deeply. And it holds an example for us. When we are wronged, betrayed, treated treacherously, the natural response is outrage, condemnation, a curse. But Christ, in the deepest betrayal, showed grace and restraint, even a last appeal. To follow him is to let grace and restraint, rather than cursing, mark our response even to those who wrong us. We do well to behold the grace of Christ that reached even to his betrayer, and to let such grace shape our response to those who wrong us. Behold Christ's grace, reaching even to the one betraying him. Christ met the deepest betrayal not with a curse, but with a word of grace. Let grace and restraint, not cursing, mark your response to those who wrong you. No treachery is beyond the reach of Christ's grace and last appeal.

That is worth taking to heart, for Christ's grace and restraint reached even to his betrayer, and we do well to let such grace shape our response to those who wrong us, as Jesus called Judas Friend. We can meet betrayal with a curse; but Jesus, in the moment of deepest treachery, called his betrayer Friend, a word of grace. Behold that grace. When you are wronged or betrayed, do not answer with a curse; let grace and restraint mark your response, as Christ's did even toward his betrayer. Behold the grace of Christ, which reached even to the one betraying him with a word of grace and restraint, and let such grace shape your response to those who wrong you rather than meeting them with a curse, as in the very moment of betrayal, when Judas came to hand him over with a kiss, Jesus addressed him with astonishing grace, saying, Friend, why are you here; for Judas was betraying Jesus and handing him over, using a kiss, a sign of affection, as the very signal of betrayal, the deepest treachery, yet Jesus, knowing exactly what Judas was doing, did not answer with a curse or condemnation but called him Friend, a word of grace and restraint and even a kind of appeal, Christ's grace reaching even to the one betraying him, which reveals the depth of Christ's grace, that his grace and restraint reached even to his betrayer at the very moment of betrayal, since he did not meet treachery with a curse but with a word of grace and did not condemn even the one handing him over but called him Friend, astonishing grace reaching even to those who wrong him most deeply, which holds an example for us, since when we are wronged, betrayed, or treated treacherously the natural response is outrage and condemnation, but Christ in the deepest betrayal showed grace and restraint, so that to follow him is to let grace rather than cursing mark our response even to those who wrong us, and we do well to behold the grace of Christ and let it shape our response.

Lord Jesus, in the very moment of betrayal, when Judas comes to hand you over with a kiss, you address him with a word of astonishing grace and restraint: Friend, why are you here? Judas came to you and said, greetings, Rabbi, and kissed you, the account says; but you said to him, Friend, why are you here? Judas was betraying you, handing you over to those who came to seize you, using a kiss, a sign of affection and friendship, as the very signal of betrayal. It was the deepest treachery. And yet you, knowing exactly what Judas was doing, do not answer with a curse or condemnation; you call him Friend, a word of grace and restraint, even in that moment a kind of appeal. Your grace reached even to the one betraying you. Show me how you address Judas in the moment of betrayal. He came leading an armed crowd to seize you, and used a kiss, the very sign of friendship, as the signal to identify you for arrest. It is hard to imagine a deeper treachery: betraying with a kiss, turning a sign of love into the instrument of betrayal. You knew exactly what was happening; you were not deceived. And how do you respond? Not with a curse, not with condemnation, but with a word: Friend, why are you here? Even in the moment of the deepest betrayal, you address your betrayer as Friend, a word of grace and restraint, even a last appeal to his conscience. This reveals the depth of your grace. Your grace and restraint reached even to the one betraying you. You did not meet treachery with a curse, but with a word of grace. This is astonishing grace, reaching even to those who wrong you most deeply. And it holds an example for me. When I am wronged, betrayed, treated treacherously, the natural response is outrage, condemnation, a curse. But you, in the deepest betrayal, showed grace and restraint. Take that to my heart. When I am wronged or betrayed, keep me from answering with a curse; help me let grace and restraint mark my response, Lord, as yours did even toward your betrayer, that I may follow the grace that reached even to the one betraying you.