What a haunting question!
Jesus looks Judas in the eye and says, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” ~ Luke 22:48 What a haunting question. A kiss, a symbol of love and friendship, turned into an act of betrayal. He walked with Him. He saw the miracles, heard the parables, and listened to Jesus teach day after day. Jesus wasn’t just a name in a book to Judas, He was physically present, teaching him in person. And yet, Judas still chose betrayal. He sold out the Son of God for a few coins and sealed it with a kiss, a false sign of affection masking the reality of a hard, unrepentant heart.
We might look at Judas and shake our heads, but the sad truth is, many are doing the very same thing today. We have the next best thing, God’s Word. The Bible is not just a book of religious sayings; it is the living, breathed-out Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), given to us so we might truly know Him. But instead of submitting to what Jesus teaches, many twist Scripture to suit their feelings, their opinions, and their lifestyles. That is exactly what Judas did. He ignored what Jesus was actually here to do and turned it into what he wanted Jesus to be.
It’s not enough to know about Jesus. Judas did. What matters is whether we listen to Jesus and follow Him. As James 1:22 warns, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” That deception is dangerous. There are people who talk about Jesus all day long, even teach about Him, and yet their hearts are not submitted to Him. Like Judas, they are walking alongside the truth but never truly embracing it. Their minds are set on themselves, their best life now, their goals, and their comforts. They’re close in proximity, but far in obedience.
The Bible warns us that life is short, “you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Eternity, however, never ends. Jesus said plainly in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” That is the line between true faith and false religion.
It’s heartbreaking to speak truth to people who claim to know Jesus, yet their fruit shows otherwise. They refuse correction, twist Scripture, and cling to a version of Jesus that never calls them to repent. But Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). And “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life” (John 10:27–28). That’s the dividing line, do you hear His voice in His Word and follow Him, or do you pretend, like Judas, while clinging to your own will?
Judas reminds us of a sobering truth: being near Jesus, even hearing His voice and seeing His power, does not save you. If your heart is not surrendered to Him, you’re on the same road Judas walked, one that ends in destruction. Don’t trade the truth for comfort. Don’t betray the Savior with your lips while your heart serves yourself. Get in the Word, believe what it says, and follow Jesus for real. Eternity is not a game.
Read / Listen
Judges 4:1-5:31
Luke 22:35-53
Psalm 94:1-23
Proverbs 14:3-4
New Testament
Luke 22:35-53
Summary
Scripture Must Be Fulfilled in Jesus
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
Drops of Red from Our Daily Bread
Overview: Luke 10-24 Click Here to Watch Video
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