Now that I’ve been to Jerusalem, I can say I have followed the footsteps of Jesus. At the same time, this means I have also walked in the footsteps of Judas.
That's right - Judas was right there too.
That’s so interesting and unsettling to think about, isn’t it? The spy and the Savior walked side by side.
Truth be told, I have been a Christian most of my life but for one reason or another I have never even heard the phrase “Spy Wednesday” until this year. However, it feels so much more personal and real than ever before.
What is Spy Wednesday anyway? In short, it represents the day both Mary and Judas prepared Jesus to die in very different ways.
The religious elite believed Jesus was a threat to their kingdom. They had been planning traps and conspiring to kill him for a while, but by this point they had had enough.
Meanwhile, Mary took a jar of expensive perfume and poured it over Jesus' head and feet, using her hair to rub it in. Not only was this socially unacceptable but Judas was horrified and and saw it as wasteful. He believed the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor! He may have felt noble on the outside but his heart was conspiring deep on the inside.
Jesus defended Mary. She somehow understood that Jesus had to die and prophetically embalmed him in advance. To her, it was not a waste to offer her most precious possession if it prepared Jesus for burial.
On the other hand, Judas saw that Jesus was no longer useful to him, so he betrayed him for a small portion compared to the value of Mary’s perfume.
Interestingly, everyone in this story was participating in Jesus’ death. The religious elite offered a bribe to capture Jesus, the spy betrayed Jesus for financial gain, and Mary prepared him to be laid in a tomb.
Spy Wednesday is a reminder of the cost of betrayal and the depth of Jesus' sacrifice for us.
As you continue your week, may we follow the footsteps of the Savior and not harbor the motivations of the spy.
Because guess what? Easter is just a few days away.
Stay Tuned.
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