He immediately came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Teacher,” and kissed Him.
These words are spoken at the very moment of betrayal, when sin is finally revealed. Judas’s words, “Greetings, Teacher,” are outwardly a greeting, but inwardly a cold and calculated betrayal. The kiss, which normally symbolizes love, peace, and brotherhood, here becomes the peak of hypocrisy. Judas outwardly becomes a messenger of love, but inwardly an agent of darkness. He comes near to the Lord with the appearance of drawing close, but in reality in order to separate himself from Him. Jesus receives that kiss without resistance, because His love is not conditioned by human behavior. He does not reject Judas even at this moment; by His silence He shows that divine love is not broken even in the face of betrayal. This moment bears witness that Christ’s victory begins with the power of love, not with violence.