The answer is: A kiss

Luke 22:47-48 - This was the sign that Judas has agreed with the authorities

Ah, the notorious moment where betrayal turns the course of history—the kiss of Judas! It’s fascinating to delve into the depths of this act, as a simple greeting became a symbol of treachery. In ancient cultures, a kiss was often a gesture of friendship, trust, or respect; you might even say it was akin to a modern-day handshake. But in this instance, it becomes a poignant emblem of deceit.

Judas Iscariot, notoriously known as “the betrayer,” was one of the Twelve Disciples—not your typical villain yet woven deeply into the tapestry of salvation's story. One intriguing while begging the question why? Judas, who had witnessed the miracles and teachings of Jesus, may not have understood that Jesus' mission transcended earthly power and that something greater was unfolding.

The event unfolds in the shadow of Gethsemane, a moment decorated with symbolic olivet trees under a night sky. This garden served not just as a backdrop for betrayal but also foreshadowed the complex struggle between loyalty and disloyalty. Moreover, it's curious to note that just as Christ was to be betrayed with a kiss, throughout scripture, a kiss also appears in fateful arrangements, such as in the story of Jacob deceiving Isaac (Genesis 27).

So, each time you think of a kiss in the frame of friendship, the story of Judas reminds us of the potential cost of misplaced trust—what an unforgettable lesson that echoes through time!