Bible Synapse
Did Judas point Jesus out with a kiss?
Hard question · The death and resurrection of Jesus · raised by 2 of the lists sceptics circulate
See the passages joined in the interactive mapThe passages
Judas had given the sign “Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he”; he came to Jesus, said “Hail, master”, and kissed him.
And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 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.
Judas came with the crowd, went straight to Jesus and kissed him, as he had arranged.
And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
Judas drew near to kiss Jesus, who said, “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?”
And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
Judas led the band to the garden; Jesus went out, asked whom they sought and said “I am he”, while Judas “stood with them”.
Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
The objection
Matthew, Mark and Luke say that Judas identified Jesus to the arresting party with a kiss. John says nothing of a kiss: Jesus steps forward and identifies himself, while Judas stands with the soldiers. Critics say John’s account leaves no room for the kiss.
The answer
John leaves the kiss out, but he does not deny it, and his account leaves room for it. John often passes over what the other Gospels had already made well known, such as the agony in Gethsemane, and adds what they do not tell: here, Jesus’ question “Whom seek ye?”, his answer “I am he”, the band falling back, and his request that the disciples be allowed to go (John 18:4–9).
The two parts fit together easily. Judas came at the head of the crowd (Luke 22:47), went straight up to Jesus and kissed him, the agreed sign (Mark 14:44–45). Jesus then went forward to meet the armed men and asked whom they were looking for (John 18:4). By then Judas, his part played, had stepped back among them, which is why John says that he “stood with them” (John 18:5). Jamieson-Fausset-Brown order the events this way; Gill too sees no contradiction, since John ‘only relates what is not taken notice of’ by the others. A kiss was an ordinary greeting (Luke 7:45), which is why it made a sign that would not alarm the disciples.
Other answers Christians give
The kiss after Jesus spoke
Some harmonists place the kiss after the exchange in John 18:4–9, so that Judas gave the agreed sign even though Jesus had already made himself known. Adam Clarke mentions this order, though he himself puts the kiss first; Jamieson-Fausset-Brown remark that on this order the kiss would have been needless.
From the classic commentators
But here is no contradiction, John does not deny that Judas gave a sign to the soldiers; though he omits it, it being so particularly observed by the other evangelists, and only relates what is not taken notice of by themJohn Gill, Exposition of the Bible, on John 18 (1746–1763)
a comparison of the narratives seems to show that our Lord's "coming forth" to the band was subsequent to the interview of Judas.Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary, on John 18 (1871)
Sources
- John Gill, Exposition of the Bible: John 18 (1746–1763), at Bible Hub
- Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary: John 18 (1871), at Bible Hub
- Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible: John 18 (1810–1826), at Bible Hub