Spy Wednesday: Choices, Betrayal, and Devotion
As we consider the events of “Spy Wednesday”, let’s think back to a fun game we played as kids, one that I still enjoy today with the kids around me. The game is “I Spy”, where the goal is to trick your opponent into looking at something other than the item you’re focused on.
It goes something like this: “I spy with my little eye, something that is blue.” Your opponent may guess the sky, the cover of a book, or my UK hoodie. But while you’re focused on something obvious, the other player is focused on something less noticeable.
The Spy Among Us
On Spy Wednesday, the spy wasn’t so obvious. His name was Judas, a disciple of Jesus. Even the other disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, who is it?” when He predicted a betrayer among them.
Judas, for 30 pieces of silver, went on to betray Jesus, aligning himself with Caiaphas, the high priest, and agreeing to help orchestrate Jesus’s death. His betrayal was one of the pivotal moments in this painful week leading to the crucifixion.
Bethany vs. The Sanhedrin
Meanwhile, as Caiaphas’s scheme was being executed, another important event was happening in Bethany. The sequence in Matthew 26 and Mark 14 involves the plot to kill Jesus, His anointing in Bethany, and Judas’s agreement to betray Him.
Here’s the irony: Both the woman in Bethany and the chief priests and their followers had arrived at the same conclusion—Jesus must die. Despite their differing reasons:
The woman at Bethany was preparing Jesus for burial, recognizing Him as Christ the
King.
The Sanhedrin wanted Jesus dead to preserve their power and control.
To the world, Jesus represented a rival king, a rival temple, and a rival sacrifice—a figure who demanded a response.
What is Your Response?
So, what is your response? Will you focus on Bethany or follow the Sanhedrin? Are you willing to be mocked for pouring out everything in devotion to Jesus, or will you follow the crowd, seeking its protection only to face its calamity?
The choice is clear. Both the woman in Bethany and Judas made a choice in how they responded to Jesus. His name demands a response from each of us as well.
On Spy Wednesday, we are reminded of the risk and reward of our choices:
The woman’s risk was sacrifice—her year’s wages and social awkwardness. Her reward was eternal.
Judas’s risk was losing his place at Jesus’s table. His reward was temporary—the silver, which he would soon regret.
What will your choice be? Fix your eyes on Jesus, the one who poured it all out for you, offering a reward that lasts forever.
About the Author:
Rev. Jonathan Carey
Cochrane Elementary Assistant Principal
TC Attender Since Birth (with a brief absence to serve as Youth Pastor in central KY)
