
Jesus would be saying "You would use a kiss to betray me?" It corresponds exactly to the Japanese word sessha, "this one," an old-fashioned way to say "I" or "me" when talking to a superior.

Geza Vermes, however, in his book Jesus the Jew, presents a very different view: The Aramaic word barnasha-literally "son of man" but meaning "this person"-is used in Rabbinic literature as a humble, self-effacing way to refer to oneself, to the speaker. Luke (22:47-48) presents a very different picture: Jesus sees Judas coming and stops him by asking: "Judas, are you betraying the son of man with a kiss?" The kiss is apparently not delivered at all. According to John, Jesus responded by saying "Friend, do what you are here to do." This has caused speculation that Jesus and Judas were actually in agreement with each other and there was no real betrayal.

It is the same verb that Plutarch uses to describe a famous kiss that Alexander the Great gave Bagoas.

Both Matthew (26:47-50) and Mark (14:44-45) use the Greek verb kataphilein, which means to kiss firmly, intensely, passionately, tenderly or warmly.
