As we continue walking through Holy Week, Wednesday marks a subtle but significant turning point. Monday and Tuesday were filled with teaching, challenge, and public presence. But today, we move quietly yet definitively toward the cross. Though Scripture doesn’t give Holy Wednesday a dramatic narrative like the days that follow, it carries a deep spiritual weight. Some Christian traditions even refer to it as Spy Wednesday—a name that draws our attention to the act of betrayal that would set the passion of Christ in motion.

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As we continue walking through Holy Week, Wednesday marks a subtle but significant turning point. Monday and Tuesday were filled with teaching, challenge, and public presence. But today, we move quietly yet definitively toward the cross. Though Scripture doesn’t give Holy Wednesday a dramatic narrative like the days that follow, it carries a deep spiritual weight. Some Christian traditions even refer to it as Spy Wednesday—a name that draws our attention to the act of betrayal that would set the passion of Christ in motion.

Matthew’s Gospel offers a short but weighty account of what happened on this day:

“Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I betray him to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.”
—Matthew 26:14–16

This quiet transaction—an agreement in the shadows—is what gives Holy Wednesday its name in some traditions. Judas became the “spy” among the twelve, betraying Jesus from within the intimacy of the circle of disciples.

Scripture tells us that Satan entered into Judas. There is no denying that this was a deeply spiritual moment—evil was at work. But even as we acknowledge the supernatural forces in motion, we also must pause and consider what was happening within Judas himself.

Judas’ betrayal wasn’t just about money. There’s reason to believe he had grown disillusioned with Jesus. Like many in that time, Judas may have expected a son of David—not just in lineage, but in mission. The crowds cried “Hosanna to the Son of David” on Palm Sunday, expecting a messiah who would lead a political revolution, overthrow Rome, and reestablish Israel’s earthly kingdom.

But Jesus didn’t come to conquer with the sword. His was a different kind of kingdom—one not of this world. And when it became clear that Jesus wasn’t going to start the revolution Judas wanted, something shifted in his heart.

Some scholars even speculate that Judas, far from acting purely out of greed or hatred, might have been trying to force Jesus’ hand—thinking that betrayal would corner Jesus into finally fighting back. If this was Judas’ intent, it was tragically misguided. Instead of sparking rebellion, his actions led to death—Jesus’ and, later, his own.

Whether that theory is accurate or not, what we do know is this: disappointment is fertile ground for destruction. The enemy didn’t need to plant evil in Judas’ heart—he just needed to exploit what was already there: confusion, frustration, unmet expectations.

And isn’t that still true today?

When Jesus doesn’t act the way we want…
When he doesn’t fix what we thought he would fix…
When he leads us down paths we didn’t choose…

Disappointment sets in. And if we’re not careful, that disappointment can grow into something much darker.

That’s the sobering lesson of Holy Wednesday. Not just that someone betrayed Jesus, but that someone close to him did. Someone who walked with him, talked with him, saw the miracles—someone who had every reason to trust him. Judas’ story reminds us how important it is to guard our hearts, especially when life doesn’t go the way we hoped.

Holy Wednesday is a day to reflect on our inner life with God. What do we do when we don’t understand what he’s doing? How do we respond when his ways are higher than ours? The temptation to take control, to manipulate outcomes, or even to walk away altogether is real.

But so is the grace of Christ.

Let’s not forget—Jesus welcomed Judas to the table. He washed his feet. He offered him bread. Right up to the end, Judas was loved.

So on this Holy Wednesday, let’s examine our hearts. Let’s name our disappointments. Let’s bring our confusion, our pain, and our questions to the One who still welcomes us.

Let’s remember that when everything feels uncertain, Jesus remains faithful—and that his plans, even when they don’t match ours, are better than anything we could dream.