Holy Wednesday - Events
Jesus continues teaching in the temple
The Sanhedrin (the supreme council of the Jewish people in Israel which had civil, religious, and criminal jurisdiction) plots to kill Jesus
Judas agrees to betray Christ
Why was Jesus so adamant about continuing to teach in the temple?
In the words of Joel Beeke, “knowing that His death would soon end His earthly ministry of public teaching, Christ busied Himself to fulfill His prophetic calling in Israel.” There are a number of lessons to be learned from Christ’s unwavering commitment to His mission and calling, and in Him we have a perfect example of godly diligence in the face of overwhelming stress, anxiety, and anguish, which were surely affecting the Lord just two days prior to His crucifixion. What faith it must have taken to continue teaching in the temple knowing the pain that was to come.
Why was the Sanhedrin secretly plotting to kill Jesus?
The Scriptures are clear that the chief priests “feared the people,” that they were “seeking to arrest [Jesus] by stealth and kill Him,” for they feared an “uproar from the people.” The fact that these men didn’t want the public to know what they intended to do to Jesus tells us just how corrupt, proud, and wicked they were in their hearts. Surely, if Jesus was truly guilty of blasphemy or sin or a crime, there would be no need to hide his arrest or subsequent judicial proceedings. But this shows the utter pride of the Sanhedrin and the corruption of their hearts in despising and rejecting Christ; despite the people recognizing Him as the promised Messiah, the priests, in their pride and blindness, refused to acknowledge His Lordship, pressing on with their murder plot, and ultimately “crucifying the Lord of glory.”
Why did Judas agree to betray Christ?
On a superficial level, Judas agrees to betray Christ for 30 pieces of silver, comparable to approximately four months’ wages. On a deeper level, though, there are a few theories as to why Judas betrayed Jesus.
One theory is that Judas never actually believed Jesus to be God, indicated by the fact that while the other disciples called Jesus “Lord,” Judas never did, rather calling Him “rabbi,” or teacher. We see throughout the gospels the other disciples making bold professions of loyalty and faith, and yet Judas never does.
Judas also lacked the real personal relationship with Christ that so many of the other disciples had with Him. Many scholars believe that the order in which the disciples are listed in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, indicates each disciple’s level of closeness to the Lord, hence why Peter, James, and John are always at the top. Without fail, Judas is mentioned last. In fact, the only verbal interactions documented in Scripture between Christ and Judas are all negative; Jesus rebukes Judas for criticizing Mary (John 12:1-8), Judas denies being a traitor (Matthew 26:25), and the actual betrayal (Luke 22:48).
Another thing to consider is Judas’s persistent love of money. While serving as the group’s treasurer, John 12:5-6 makes clear that Judas was a liar and a thief who “helped himself to what was put into the moneybag.”
Judas also might have believed Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman Empire and hoped that if He were to ascend to a position of political power, that he might acquire power and status by association. After Jesus squashed any notion of earthly political power or glory, instead foretelling His own death at the hands of the Roman Empire, Judas likely lost any faith He had in Jesus, writing Him off as a counterfeit Messiah.
Any combination of these various theories might be correct. But what is most important here is that Judas willingly chose to betray the Son of Man. We read in John 13:27 that “Satan entered into Him.” Satan is always active in the works of evil. But even in the midst of the greatest evil ever committed, the murder of the sinless Lamb of God, God used the works of the devil to bring about the once-for-all sacrifice for sinners in the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ, thereby crushing the serpent’s head and defeating sin and death. What an amazing thing, to know that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Go In Strength
Like Jesus, pray that God would help you to be fully committed and dedicated to the mission that He has given you, even in the midst of trials, suffering, and anxiety
Remember what the Sanhedrin forgot, that “nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light” (Luke 8:17). While they tried to kill Jesus with craftiness and stealth, in private, their wicked actions are now part of the most well-known, recognized, and repeated story in the history of the world. Truly, “no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).
In the words of Thomas Goodwin, “Judas heard all of Christ’s sermons.” What a sobering thought, that Judas walked with Jesus for three years, saw His miracles, heard the divine words, and saw His love for the lost, only to betray Him for a few pieces of silver. Judas had all of the evidence and every reason to believe, and yet his heart remained unchanged. Let this be a lesson to us that physical proximity to Jesus (or church) is of no account if we are not born again of the Spirit of God.
May your Holy Week be a time of repentance, faith, meditation, and prayer.
See you tomorrow.
In Christ,
LC
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