Lent Day 34 [03.28.2026] The Kiss of Death

Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" - John 18:11

Scripture: John 18:1-14

After the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus would cross the Kidron Valley and enter the garden of Gethsemane with His disciples. Judas would arrive with a detachment of soldiers and some Jewish officials. They approached Jesus with torches, lanterns, and weapons, but when Jesus identified Himself, they all drew back and fell to the ground. He asks them again and before turning Himself over to be arrested, protects and releases His disciples. Peter suddenly draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant but Jesus commands Peter to put away his sword and heals the servant’s ear as we see in the account given in the gospel of Luke. This entire encounter was orchestrated upon Judas’ betrayal.

What exactly did Judas do that qualified his actions as betrayal? We first must consider how closely Judas walked with Jesus. Judas was included in the inner twelve and not only would he have experienced the miracles of Jesus firsthand but would have been an instrumental part of these miracles throughout Jesus’ ministry. He would hear Jesus’ intimate words, see Jesus’ sacrifices, and know the private identity of Jesus so Judas had great information regarding who Jesus was and what He did. He also knew how popular Jesus had become so to arrest Jesus it would have to be during the night. Of course, without modern day lighting, it would have been difficult to locate and identify Jesus without raising a great commotion. The arrest needed to take place in the night, swiftly, and upon the testimony and intention of one of Jesus’ closest. This person would be Judas.

When we consider certain people or circumstances that God places in our lives that cause us pain and suffering, the great truth we experience today through Jesus’ conscious choice to keep Judas so close is this: When we love even those who hurt us to the end, God uses them to glorify us in the end. Loving them and enduring through our circumstances does not mean conform to please them or our circumstances, rather love them without an ounce of fault, gossip, or hatred.

Reflection:

1.     Do we have someone or a certain circumstance that we have trouble loving or enduring through?

2.     How does the story of Jesus and Judas teach us that there is great blessing when we love those who have harmed us?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the difficult lesson you have taught me through your ministry. There are people and circumstances in my life that I would rather run away from, hide away from, or even take revenge on, but you have shown me that to love is better than vengeance. Help me to love those you have placed in my life without guilt or fault. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

제목: 죽음의 입맞춤본문: 요한복음 18:1-14

대제사장적 기도를 마치신 후, 예수님께서는 기드론 시내를 건너 제자들과 함께 겟세마네 동산으로 들어가십니다. 그때 유다는 군인들과 유대 지도자들을 이끌고 옵니다. 그들은 횃불과 등불, 무기를 들고 예수님께 나아왔지만, 예수님께서 “내가 그니라”라고 자신을 밝히시자 모두 물러나 땅에 엎드러집니다. 예수님은 다시 한 번 자신을 밝히신 후, 제자들을 보호하시며 그들을 놓아 보내십니다. 그 순간 베드로가 칼을 꺼내 대제사장의 종의 귀를 베어버리지만, 예수님은 칼을 거두라 명하시고 누가복음의 기록처럼 그 귀를 고쳐주십니다. 이 모든 사건은 유다의 배신을 통해 이루어진 일이었습니다.

그렇다면 유다가 행한 일이 왜 배신이라 불리는 것일까요? 우리는 먼저 유다가 예수님과 얼마나 가까운 관계였는지를 생각해야 합니다. 유다는 열두 제자 중 한 사람이었으며, 예수님의 기적을 직접 보고 경험했을 뿐 아니라 그 사역에 동참했던 인물이었습니다. 그는 예수님의 깊은 가르침을 들었고, 예수님의 희생을 가까이에서 보았으며, 예수님의 정체를 누구보다 잘 알고 있었습니다. 또한 예수님의 인기가 얼마나 컸는지도 알고 있었기 때문에, 예수님을 체포하려면 사람들의 눈을 피해 밤에 이루어져야 한다는 것도 알고 있었습니다. 당시에는 현대와 같은 조명이 없었기 때문에, 소란 없이 예수님을 정확히 알아보는 일은 쉽지 않았습니다. 그래서 체포는 밤에, 신속하게, 그리고 예수님을 가장 잘 아는 사람의 도움을 통해 이루어져야 했습니다. 그 역할을 한 사람이 바로 유다였습니다.

오늘 말씀을 통해 우리는 또 하나의 중요한 진리를 발견합니다. 하나님께서 우리의 삶에 두시는 사람들과 상황 가운데에는 우리에게 고통과 상처를 주는 경우도 있습니다. 그러나 예수님께서 끝까지 유다를 곁에 두셨던 것처럼, 우리도 끝까지 사랑할 때 하나님께서는 그 모든 상황을 통해 결국 우리를 영화롭게 하십니다. 그 사랑은 상황이나 사람에게 맞추어 타협하는 것이 아니라, 원망이나 미움, 험담 없이 끝까지 사랑하는 것을 의미합니다.

묵상 질문:

1. 내가 사랑하거나 견디기 어려운 사람이나 상황이 있는가?

2. 예수님과 유다의 이야기를 통해, 나를 힘들게 한 사람까지 사랑할 때 어떤 은혜와 축복이 있는지 어떻게 배울 수 있는가?

   
   

기도:

하나님 아버지, 오늘 말씀을 통해 어려운 사랑의 길을 배우게 하시니 감사합니다. 제 삶 속에는 피하고 싶고, 숨고 싶고, 때로는 보복하고 싶은 사람과 상황들이 있습니다. 그러나 주님께서는 사랑이 복수보다 낫다는 것을 보여주셨습니다. 제 마음에 미움이나 원망이 자리 잡지 않도록 도와주시고, 주님께서 주신 사랑으로 끝까지 사랑하게 하소서. 예수님의 이름으로 기도합니다. 아멘.