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14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26:14-16 NIV)
It's Spy Wednesday, dear Friend; the day called that because of what one of the Twelve did to Jesus, and all for money as some will say. Tomorrow night Jesus will reveal this and all will ask, "Is it I?" Is it you?
Many a Methodist pastor has his/her story. In the Methodist tradition the pastor-parish relations committee or some may know it as the pulpit committee, and it is a key committee for they are supposed to nurture and care for the pastor and their family. It is in no shape or form a complaint committee! The job of that group of people is to care for the pastoral family in a positive way. In the UMC, the pastor is the chairperson of the nominations committee that nominates members of all committees in the local church, including and especially the PPRC. It is has been the desire of most pastors to place those whom have presented themselves as being concerned for the ministry of the church and for the pastoral family. And almost every pastor has a story of that one member (if s/he was lucky; more than one if they weren't) who once on the committee changes perspective and becomes not an advocate for the pastor but a "thorn in the flesh" of that pastor. Did Jesus not know that Judas would be that member of the Twelve? He knew. And it may have been the reason Judas Iscariot was selected to be a part of the disciples. It is something we can argue until we get to Heaven when all will be revealed; so for now we will just go with the story as shared with us.
The surface motivation may have been money, for Judas asked for money to betray Jesus. Others, when talking about who kept the common purse of the group not only reveal it to be Judas, but also that he was a thief, so the evidence doesn't bode well for this disciple.
Spy Wednesday is a day shrouded in quiet sorrow. It marks the moment betrayal began to unfold—when one of Jesus' own, a man who walked beside Him, witnessed His miracles, and shared meals at His table, chose to trade loyalty for silver. Thirty pieces of silver. It's interesting to note that the 30 pieces of silver were in those days the price for a slave. Poetically,, it speaks volumes of who the slave already was. He could have bought a nice part of land, which ironically happened after Judas' death. In today's dollars the amount Judas received was not even $20,000.
Judas’ question still echoes through time: “What are you willing to give me?” His betrayal wasn’t born in a moment, but in a slow fading of trust, of faith, and of love.
It’s easy to judge Judas from a distance. But Spy Wednesday invites us to examine our own hearts: where have we compromised our commitment to Christ? Have we ever let pride, resentment, fear—or even comfort—lead us to turn away from Him, in big or small ways?
Jesus knew betrayal was coming, and yet He didn’t retreat. He kept loving. He kept teaching. He kept walking toward the cross.
The good news is that even when we fall short, Jesus’ grace is still offered. His love runs deeper than our failures. Spy Wednesday reminds us that God sees all—the betrayal, the brokenness—and still chooses the way of redemption.
PRAYER: Loving God of mercy, as we remember how You were betrayed by one who was close to You. It’s sobering to consider how easily we, too, can betray You in our thoughts, our choices, our silences. Forgive us for the times we’ve turned away from You—for silver, for comfort, for approval. Restore in us a loyal heart. Help us to follow You, even when it costs us something. Let our lives reflect Your love and faithfulness, even in the face of darkness. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Take time today to reflect on any ways you've drifted from Christ. Confess honestly, and receive His forgiveness. Then reach out to someone who needs a word of encouragement or hope—and show the loyalty and love that Jesus never stopped giving.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
