Spy Wednesday

Matthew 26: 14-25

Judas to Betray Jesus

¹⁴ Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples

¹⁷ Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹⁸ He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” ¹⁹ And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

²⁰ When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. ²¹ And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” ²² And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” ²³ He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” ²⁵ Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Wednesday of Holy Week has traditionally been called "Spy Wednesday", since it seems to have been the day when Judas made the agreement with the chief priests to hand Jesus over to them for a sum of money, the infamous 30 pieces of silver. There is no specific day mentioned, however,  but Matthew's account assures us that at some point, Judas chose this course of action. 

Matthew then continues with the Passover Meal at which Jesus declares that one of the apostles will betray him, which they all deny, even Judas.  His last words recorded are, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?", to which Jesus answers, "You have said so" and then proceeds with what we acknowledge as the institution of the Eucharist.  An evil act is counterbalanced by a magnificent Gift,  one which continues to nourish us to this day.

The Mercy of God continues to outshine and out do even the worst of our sins or betrayals. May we find encouragement in the assurance that despite our daily or even hourly failures, mercy and   forgiveness are ours,.

Bro. Rene