Almost everyone knows something about the apostle Judas. He is the one who arranged to have Jesus arrested and tried. He did this for 30 pieces of silver, which he later tried to return. We are told in Matthew 26:47-48 that he kissed Jesus as a signal to those sent by the chief priests. Whoever he kissed was the one they were to arrest.
It is such a sad thing and yet a marvelous thing. It is tremendously sad that Jesus was arrested, tried and killed even though he was completely innocent, but it is a wonderful and marvelous thing that He did for us. It is only through His sacrifice that we have hope of living in Heaven.
I noticed something in verse forty-eight recently that had never caught my attention. Judas said that whoever he kissed, the arresting men should “hold him fast.” The Greek word translated “hold fast” means to obtain, take hold of, take charge of, hold without letting go, seize and seize with authority. It is the same word used in Colossians 2:18-19 where Paul told those in Colossae that they should let no man influence them to give up Christ, “not holding the Head.” Paul said we should hold the Head fast.
Judas, who betrayed Jesus, told others to hold Him fast. How ironic and how sad. Instead of spiritually holding on to Jesus, Judas chose to tell others to physically hold Jesus fast. Instead of spiritually holding fast to Jesus, Judas chose to release his grip. He betrayed Jesus. Spiritually, he turned his back on our Lord. Physically, he chose to hold fast to the silver he was offered for the betrayal. He eventually felt sorry for what he had done, but it was too late. He flung the silver down just as he had flung Christ from his grasp.
Don’t be like Judas. Be like the Colossians who were instructed to hold Jesus fast. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
