Jesus was not taken by surprise. In the darkness, He gathered His sleepy disciples around Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer" (Matthew 26:46). It was hardly an ambush: Jesus knew that Judas had already betrayed Him to the religious authorities and that they would know where to find Him. Then Judas came, guiding a detachment of soldiers and religious officials (John 18:3) accompanied by a large mob carrying weapons and home-made clubs and flaming torches to illuminate the garden. They were expecting a fight.
 
Judas came forward to kiss his Master, but not before Jesus had taken command of the situation. He broke the silence asking who they had come to arrest, declaring His identity (John 18:4-8). Then Judas kissed Him; not just the prearranged signal of one kiss, but many kisses (as the Greek indicates). Jesus did not flinch from those kisses or from the hands of those who seized Him. He was in control of the whole situation from beginning to end. He had arranged the meeting and He would not fight because it was the necessary first step to His crucifixion.
 
Judas had been quite a disappointment. He was good with numbers and was given the job of looking after the money (John 12:6); but he was a thief and embezzled some of the money given to Jesus in good faith that it would be used well. He had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and now he lied about his love for Jesus. The kiss should have been a sign of honour from an apprentice to his master. But Judas did not love or respect Jesus. He loved what he could get out of Jesus. Although his parents called him Judas, "the praised one" (Genesis 29:35), his name would become synonymous with lack of integrity and betrayal.
 
Love must be sincere (Romans 12:9) or it is not love at all. Love is giving what is needed with integrity. But the life-story of Judas has self-interest stamped all over it. And yet Jesus called him 'friend'. Jesus was honest but the kiss was Judas' last recorded lie; and he is a warning to all of us. No amount of religious activity can fool Jesus. Yes, He can still use sinners, like He used Judas, but He only saves those who believe in Him and repent (Judas did neither). As a child Judas would have heard these words every morning, "…love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5) – but he chose to disobey. So if you know the truth, do it. If you do not really love the Lord, repent and truly commit to Him. If you know your life is a lie, repent before it is too late.