Day 4: Holy Wednesday (or “Spy Wednesday”)
This devotional comes from BibleProject
We often think of Holy Wednesday, or “Spy Wednesday,” as the day Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. Judas offers to help powerful religious leaders harm Jesus in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. And the leaders jump at the opportunity—Judas will be their spy.
But what prompted Judas to betray Jesus? How did he go from follower to betrayer? Matthew, Mark, and Luke cite greed as a motivating factor in Judas’ decision, but there could have been a multitude of reasons. Some see Judas’ name, Iscariot, as a wordplay referring to the Sicarii, or the “dagger men,” a sectarian group of Jewish zealots who worked to violently overthrow the Roman occupation. Was Judas angry with Jesus for refusing to go to war? Perhaps. Later in the story, we see Judas’ extreme remorse, but the authors give little insight into Judas’ motivation or mindset during the events of the week.
One thing the authors make clear is that Judas’ actions are incited by God’s opposer, the Satan (see Luke 22:1-6). What does that mean? Who is the Satan, and how do spiritual beings like the Satan engage with human beings in the biblical story?
In today’s video, learn more about how dark spiritual powers will need to be confronted and dethroned when God’s Kingdom comes into full power. Discover the mission Jesus saw himself fulfilling and how he continually describes his treatment on Earth by humans as orchestrated by dark spiritual forces.
BibleProject ~ The Satan and Demons • Understand Evil Spiritual Beings in the Bible (Spiritual Beings Series Ep 4)
If the embedded video won't play, you can go straight to YouTube here to watch it.
Matthew 26:1-16
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples, 2 “You know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 3 At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. 5 “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” 6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? 9 This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.” 10 Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me. 12 By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” 14 Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
You can read the entire chapter here
Mark 14:1-11
1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him. 2 “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” 3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head. 4 Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me. 8 She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial. 9 And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
You can read the entire chapter here
Luke 22:1-6
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.
You can read the entire chapter here
Prayer* for Holy Wednesday: Assist us mercifully with your grace, Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts by which you have promised us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
- All prayers in this reading plan are from the Book of Common Prayer (2019).