The Lodestar

Spy Wednesday, observed during Holy Week, holds theological significance as it highlights contrasting responses to Jesus: betrayal and devotion. Judas Iscariot secretly agrees to betray Jesus to the chief priests (Matthew 26:14–16), while Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus with costly perfume (John 12:1–8). These two acts, placed within days of the crucifixion, frame the moral and spiritual contrast between rejection and recognition of the Messiah’s mission.

Judas Betrays for Profit

Judas's betrayal of Jesus is more than treachery; it reflects a deeper conflict between material gain and spiritual truth. Matthew records that Judas sought out the chief priests, initiating the transaction himself: “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” (Matthew 26:15). The priests agreed to pay him thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave under Mosaic law (Exodus 21:32), indicating how little value they placed on Jesus’ life. Judas’s choice to monetise his proximity to Jesus reveals how greed can distort one’s moral compass. His action is not a sudden lapse but a calculated decision rooted in disillusionment and greed, contrasting sharply with discipleship’s call to self-denial.

Mary Anoints with Devotion

In contrast to Judas, Mary of Bethany performs a public act of devotion that prefigures Jesus’ burial. She pours expensive ointment, pure nard worth about three hundred denarii (John 12:3–5), on Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair. This act is not only extravagant but deeply symbolic. It reflects her recognition of Jesus’ impending death and her willingness to honour him without reservation. Her act is criticised by Judas, who questions the waste of resources, claiming it could have been given to the poor (John 12:5). However, John clarifies that Judas’s concern was not genuine, as he was a thief and used to steal from the money bag (John 12:6). Mary’s devotion, unlike Judas’s deceit, reveals a heart attuned to spiritual realities, recognising that love sometimes demands costly, irrational gestures.

Contrasting Motives and Moral Lessons

Spy Wednesday invites reflection on motives. Judas represents the disillusioned follower who manipulates truth for personal gain. His proximity to Jesus did not translate into spiritual understanding. Meanwhile, Mary models discipleship that perceives and responds to the moment's weight. Her action becomes a testimony preserved wherever the Gospel is preached (Mark 14:9). The day speaks not only about past events. Still, it mirrors contemporary faith—how believers may commodify or consecrate their relationship with Christ.

A Day of Inner Examination

Spy Wednesday urges introspection. The narratives of betrayal and anointing challenge readers to assess their response to Jesus’ call. Do they resemble Judas, who calculates benefits, or Mary, who gives without counting the cost? The day before the crucifixion becomes a call to weigh one’s allegiance, not by words but by choices made in secret and public. (With a lifelong passion for writing, he finds joy in weaving his imagination into words on paper.)