Wednesday of Passion Week

Wednesday: Mark 14 This seemingly quiet day is often referred to as “Spy Wednesday”. The Chief Priest hold back their outward hatred for Christ today not only because of the rebuke they received from Jesus just yesterday in the temple, but also the overwhelming interest and excitement the people showed for His teaching in the temple. They use this day to meet secretly and put the final pieces of their wicked plan together. It is fascinating that the chief priests and the Pharisees who are regularly at odds with one another come together over their hatred for Jesus. Both groups want nothing more than Jesus dead but they fear the masses that flock to hear Him teach. They decide to wait till after the Passover Feast (vs 2) unless some unforeseen opportunity comes along that would speed up the process. That opportunity will find its way to them on this very day….

Back in Bethany, where Jesus is staying, a woman, who we know from John 12:3 to be Mary, the sister of Martha, anoints him with a very expensive ointment. A very frustrated Judas, who happens to be the disciple in charge of handling money, speaks up with his complaint. It could be sold for a years wage! This money could go so far to help the poor! Judas was not at first wrong in his human thinking, however the focus of this act of worship was toward Jesus not others. This is true worship.... Whatever it takes to bring Glory to God alone! Jesus saw this act as much more than a waste of money. Mary was giving her all for the Master. He graciously received this gift and scolded Judas by saying “...she hath wrought a good work on me” (vs. 6). Her worship was in the right place. From a clean heart and God Centered.

Judas allowed this “waste” to eat at him to the point where the love of money and he belief in the wisdom of man become to much for him to bare and he went to share his complaint with the chief priest. This was Exactly what they were waiting for! (Vs. 11) “...When they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money...”. It is no coincidence that the “love of money...the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10) was the very sin that set the final piece in place for the plan to kill our Lord and Savior. Question: If God knew all this was to take place before the foundation of the world why would he allow the insult of a betrayal to be added to the insult of the cross?

Jesus shows us just a glimpse of the answer to this question when he quotes Psalm 41:9 in John 13:18. He says, “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.”

Jesus alludes to the fact that just like David in Psalm 41:9 was betrayed by his closest friend, He too, a descendant of King David is being betrayed by those closest to him.

Why?

Two Reasons.

“...that the scripture may be fulfilled…” (John 13:18)

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

(John 15:13)