April 16, 20205 Weekly Update
Today is the midpoint of Holy Week, the final week of Lent that leads us to Christ’s resurrection. Sometimes it can be hard to grasp the enormity of what Jesus and his disciples experienced. I invite you to begin reading today one or multiple Gospel passages in scripture to fully comprehend the details, emotions, and power of these holy days.
Wednesday doesn’t have an official name like “Maundy Thursday” or “Good Friday.” I have seen it referenced as “Spy Wednesday” because this is the day Judas decided to betray Jesus and became a spy among the disciples. Scripture isn’t completely clear about Judas’s motivation. Different film or theatrical adaptations of the passion have shown a fearful Judas, an angry Jesus, and a zealous Jesus. Luke’s gospel tells us that the accuser, the Satan, entered Judas. Was he possessed? How exactly was he tempted?
Some scholars have argued that perhaps Judas truly loved Jesus, and his betrayal of his rabbi was an attempt to have Jesus arrested so that it would either protect him from Rome, or spark the unleashing of a true Judean revolt. I guess we’ll add it to our list of questions for God in heaven. But I invite you to read the passage below, and ponder the actions of Judas and others that led to Christ’s arrest, trial, beating, and death.
Luke 22:1-6
Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; 4 he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. 5 They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.
Lenten blessings,
Pastor Jared