Why did Judas need to identify Jesus?

It was while He was still speaking to His disciples that the enemies came to take hold of Him, to take the Beloved of the Father captive. "And while He was yet speaking, Behold Judas, one of the twelve came, and with him a great crowd with swords and sticks" (verse 47). It seems that Judas made good use of his time since he left the room where the feast was kept. The Lord had said to him, knowing the thoughts of his dark heart, "What thou doest, do quickly." Possessed by Satan, he had rushed forth into the dark night, and, in feverish haste, led on by the evil one, he had succeeded in all his plans. The officers and a detachment of Roman soldiers, most likely several hundred, were put at his disposal. These carried swords and other weapons, besides lanterns and torches. These were Gentiles; perhaps of different countries, such which Rome had conquered. But there were others, and they carried sticks. The temple guard had turned out in full force; these were the hirelings of the chief priests and elders. The rabble of the street no doubt was also represented, for it was a great crowd. What a scene! Gentiles and Jews come to lay their hands on the Prince of Life, the Lord of Glory, ready to commit the greatest sin. All the sinfulness of sin is now to be manifested. But why such a great multitude and such precaution to capture one man, who was "meek and lowly"? What a testimony after all to His power, which they feared and yet what blindness.

Judas appears first on the scene. Behold Judas! What a surprise it must have been for the disciples, aroused from sleep, to find him present who had withdrawn from them under such mysterious circumstances. From the Gospel of Luke we learn that he was not only the leader of the great crowd but he walked ahead of them. What a subtle plan he had laid, and in it the cunning of that same Serpent which was in that garden, in which the first Adam had been placed. How cunning and yet how blunt. All had been arranged so as to make His escape impossible. The traitor was to kiss Him so that the Lord might be known and likewise become detached from the disciples; then they were to press at once upon Him and capture Him. All was carefully premeditated. Judas by his action and his plan shows that he did not believe in the Lord as the Son of God; he knew His power. When he walked before them he may have cunningly aimed at the hiding of his satanic deed.

And now he reaches the side of Him whom he still calls "Rabbi." The first word he utters was a word of joy. "Oh, the joy! Rabbi" -- thus it reads in literal translation. Then he kissed Him eagerly. The symbol of love, devotion and faithfulness so much used in the Orient is used by the traitor. What must the Holy One have suffered, when the one who had been in His loving company came up and had uttered that word, "Oh, the Joy"? What suffering must have passed through that loving heart when He felt the vile lips of that one upon His cheeks!

Judas appears with a large crowd armed with swords and staves. Having pre-arranged with them the signal that he would kiss the Lord, he goes before in carrying out his dastardly plan. Though he had before seen the Lord reading the very thoughts of men, being utterly without faith, he thinks he can deceive Him in this repulsive way, as though the Lord would not know that his kiss was a kiss of betrayal. Yet the Lord does not speak despitefully, but calls him, "Friend," asking the reason for his coming. Luke tells us that He also said, "Betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?" (Lk.22:48). Precious testimony to His own unchanging grace and faithfulness!

Only the Lord was prepared when the enemy came. Judas went ahead of the crowd, evidently thinking that the Lord would not know that he was in any way linked with these soldiers. How blind was his unbelief, and how grossly deceitful, that he would kiss the Lord with the object of betraying Him! The Lord's words to him (v.48), faithful, yet with no bitterness or anger, showed him that his treachery had been discerned. What could he do now? Where could he go? For he had proven to friends and enemies alike that he could not be trusted. Terrible exposure! We know from Matthew 27:3-5 the tragic end of this pathetic victim of Satan's delusion, that he hanged himself and entered eternity lost, and destined to eternal punishment.

In calm firmness of faith the Lord Jesus says, "Rise, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand." As the true Servant of God He will face the enemy. Immediately Judas comes with a great crowd of armed men sent by the chief priests, scribes and elders. Yet it seems that Judas was still acting in foolish deceitfulness, wanting to give the impression that he was not actually connected with these temple soldiers, so he goes in advance with the pre-arranged signal of his kissing the Lord. How could he think that such miserable treachery could remained concealed? However, though the Lord knew his every motive, when he used the fawning words, "Teacher, Teacher" and kissed Him, the Lord did not respond angrily: in fact Mark makes no mention of any response, as do Matthew (ch.26:50) and Luke (ch.2:48)

(1) The traitor comes now, with the armed men he has procured, ― a great multitude with swords and clubs from the chief priests and elders. "The swords indicate that the Roman cohort (John 18:3) was the centre of this multitude; while the clubs and so forth indicate that the Jewish temple watch, and other miscellaneous fanatics, were there also" (Lange). Jew and Gentile, men of different nationality and diverse classes, were ready to take part, and did, in the world's crowning sin.

The treachery of Judas would fain still conceal itself in the kiss of identification; which is given emphatically, as if to assure the One he is betraying that he is not part of the multitude that follow him. The Lord penetrates this disguise, not with a rebuke but with a question: "Friend, wherefore art thou here?" to which He adds, as Luke tells us, the more direct one, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" Divine love has not, even yet, ceased its expostulation, ― has not closed the door against his return even yet.

Immediately a multitude are upon Him, headed by Judas, who, according to a preconcerted signal, draws near to kiss Him. Of all signs that could have been given, it was surely that of the most brazen; smooth-faced hypocrisy. The Lord shows His deep sense of the insult: "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"

74 All through this is the character of Christ - He had gone through it with His Father. On the cross it is - as in all the rest - entire complete submission. He is a victim here, led as a lamb to the slaughter. Even with Judas - "he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss that same is he: hold him fast." It is terrible to think of Judas urging them to hold Him fast! In Judas you get lust of money; you see a progress of sin. He was a thief and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then Satan tempts him to betray Him, I do not doubt with the idea that He would get free. Then after supper Satan enters into him, and he was hardened against all natural feeling, for many a bad man would not betray his friend by a kiss. "And forthwith he came to Jesus and said, Hail, Master, and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they and laid hands on Jesus and took him."

John is now again on the same ground as the three Synoptic Gospels, being concerned with the history of the Lord's apprehension, condemnation, and crucifixion. But though he must have seen and heard things which the others relate, he shows his independence of them all, by giving us details passed over by every one of them. And first as to the company with Judas, who suddenly appeared on the scene. What the Lord had said to him in the upper room, not understood by the rest, "That thou doest, do quickly," was now plain indeed to every one of the Eleven. He, who had companied with the Lord and the rest from the time that the Twelve were chosen, who had preached, too, the Gospel of the kingdom, and had worked miracles like the others (Mark 6:12-13), now appeared to them all in his true character, known as it had been to Christ from the beginning (John 6:70). Providing for the feast had not been in his thoughts that night. To gratify his cupidity had been his desire.

He now came with the band — Roman soldiers from the fortress of Antonia, under the command of a chief captain, a military tribune; and with them officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, with lanterns, torches, and weapons (18:3), those lanterns and torches casting a lurid light on the scene. Under what guise the help of the Roman soldiers had been requisitioned is not mentioned. But there they were. And the Jewish authorities, apparently afraid of any disturbance, decided that the arrest should take place at night; and to overawe the disciples against any attempt at a rescue, this formidable force had evidently been marshalled. Crossing the valley, they made for the garden under the sole guidance of Judas. These details as to the company are peculiar to John. Now follows what is also peculiar to him — the self-surrender of the Lord to those sent to apprehend Him.

In chapter 18 He goes forth to the garden, and now there is to be no further delay on the part of His foes, so "Judas, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, comes thither with lanterns and torches and weapons." Was this the time for flight or fight? For neither. Without panic, surprise, or hesitation Jesus faces the crisis. He never did hesitate. Not once in all His earthly life was He at a loss how to act, never had He to seek the advice of any, or change His mind or purpose. As it had always been so it is now, and we read, "Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said to them, What seek ye?" He knew from the beginning that this hour would come, and He enters it with the calmness of that eternal knowledge, to yield Himself to their will. They answer His question by saying, "Jesus, the Nazarene." It was a name of contempt upon their lips, yet a glorious Name in spite of that; but He answers them with His own eternal Name, and they go backwards and fall to the ground in the presence of God.

How pathetic is the deceitful treachery of Judas! How grossly deceived by Satan is the poor, blinded “son of perdition!” How totally is he a stranger to the pure grace and truth of the heart of the Son of God! In the callous ignorance of unbelief he fulfills scripture. Judas knew well the Lord's accustomed practices, but knew nothing of His heart. He could not find the Lord as his Savior, but it was no difficulty for him to find Him in order to betray Him to His enemies! He brings the soldiers and officers, well equipped with lanterns, torches and weapons (v. 3), a formidable array to accomplish the arrest of a Man whom they knew was no revolutionary or rabble-rouser! All of this on their part was vain folly, for it was demonstrated to them that their show of strength was abject weakness in His presence, without His showing the least resistance, physically speaking.