Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 14:44

"Now he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; take him, and lead him away safely." — Mark 14:44 (ASV)

The prearranged means of identifying Jesus was for Judas to kiss him with a lingering kiss. Perhaps since it was dark the arresting party wanted to be sure not to arrest the wrong person. Rabbis customarily were greeted by their disciples with a kiss. Thus Judas’s act would not be suspected for what it really was. Judas’s instructions to the crowd were designed to assure the successful accomplishment of the arrest. They were to lead Jesus away securely—with no chance of escape. Once having become involved in the wicked affair, Judas did not want to make a fiasco of it.