‘Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I shall kiss, that is he. Take him.” '
We now learn of the arrangement that Jesus had made. It is clear that there was a fear that in the dark, and among a group of people, all with beards, and with their heads covered, the wrong person might be arrested. In the circumstances that would be disastrous for news would then reach the pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem that a failed attempt had been made on Jesus, making the possibility of His arrest even more difficult. If they were to do it they had to get it right first time. And the arresting party would not necessarily know Jesus well.
The sign to be used, a kiss, possibly illuminates Judas' thoughts. A kiss between men, except between those who were related, was usually used by a higher to a lower, a Rabbi to his student, the father to the prodigal son. Perhaps the iron had entered into Judas' soul and he intended to indicate, as a riposte to Jesus' earlier indication that He knew what he was about, that he had gained the mastery. But a kiss was also occasionally used between special friends (1 Samuel 20:41). And it may be that it had become a token of brotherhood among Jesus and the disciples in accordance with Matthew 12:50, as it would be later among Christians (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2Co 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14) where it was almost certainly a sign of brotherhood. We can consider also Luke 7:45 where philema, "a kiss, a mark of friendship," is used by our Lord as indicating what Simon the Pharisee had omitted to give him, and may there refer to a sign of special welcome, although even there it would have been from a host to an honoured guest. Whichever way it was it would indicate friendship, esteem and affection rather than the opposite. In the same way as Judas had eaten with Jesus from the same dish, a token of friendship, so did he feel free to kiss Jesus. It goes with his callous words, “Whoever I kiss, that is he. Take him.” It is clear that he had little compunction and little sense of honour, something which must be remembered when we feel like sympathising with him. Even rogues can have a sense of honour. John alone omits mention of the kiss. He probably saw it as so heinous that he could not bear to bring it to mind.
‘Take Him.' That is, ‘lay hold of Him'. He did not want there to be any possibility of Jesus escaping lest he lose his reward or be shamed.