Spy Wednesday
Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:14-16
“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”
The Bible doesn’t record any specific events taking place on Wednesday of Holy Week. It seems as though Jesus and the disciples took a rest day in Bethany. That would make sense considering what was about to unfold. Traditionally, this day has been called “Spy Wednesday” because it is assumed that this is the day Judas finalized his deal to betray Jesus. This too would make sense, since he would have the opportunity during their “downtime” to slip away without drawing any suspicion on himself.
Judas’ betrayal is a stark warning about the power of greed and the frailty of the human heart. I would think that at one point Judas believed himself to be a fully-devoted follower of Jesus. He wasn’t aware, or wouldn’t allow himself to admit, the role that the love of money was playing in his actions.
One can only speculate, but what if Judas had been more aware and honest about his spiritual weakness and the evil that lurked within his heart? What if he would have been like the man who prayed, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” Or what if he had said with Peter, “Lord, depart from me for I am a sinful man?” Or like Zacchaeus said, “I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone I will pay back four times.”
In other words, what if Judas would have lived with Jesus as a repentant sinner?
I’m just speculating, but I’m also making a point. The way to avoid the path that Judas took is to walk humbly and with a repentant spirit towards Christ.
