8th. April 2020.Daily Devotion.

Good day everyone,

Wednesday of Holy Week is a day of contrasts. It is known as Good Wednesday, Great Wednesday and Spy Wednesday in different churches around the world.

In Jerusalem, the ruling council met and plotted to kill Jesus, whilst Jesus, after teaching in the Temple retired to Bethany to rest at the house of Simon the Leper. It was then that Mary anointed his head and feet with oil of spikenard. This apparently wasteful act disturbed the disciples who felt its sale could benefit the poor. Judas Iscariot wanted the money for himself and this may have prompted his decision to betray Jesus for silver.

Reading: John 13:21-32

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.’
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, ‘Ask him which one he means.’
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’
26 Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, ‘What you are about to do, do quickly.’ 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

The contrast here is between evil’s feverish work, as men claiming to be of God plotted a murder, and as a greedy and disillusioned disciple planned betrayal and Jesus’ calm trust and faith as he accepted Mary’s anointing for his death. As the text above shows, Jesus was aware of Judas’s intentions. But instead of confronting Judas, Jesus continued to treat him with grace and hospitality. Sometimes the evil in the world must be left to ripen to its own judgment. The events would now move quickly to their climax. And evil, as most often happens, is destroyed in its moment of seeming triumph.

In difficult and dangerous times, possessing one’s soul in quiet faith as Jesus did in Bethany is our call. (Luke 21:19)

Here are some traditional prayers for Wednesday of Holy Week.

Almighty God, your name is glorified even in the anguish of your Son’s death.
Grant us the courage to receive your anointed servant who embodies a wisdom and love that is foolishness to the world. empower us in witness so that all the world may recognize in the scandal of the cross the mystery of reconciliation. Amen.

Creator of the universe, you made the world in beauty, and restore all things in glory
through the victory of Jesus Christ. We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war, and greed, the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Most Holy One, grant that we may be counted as members of the great cloud of witnesses who live with justice and compassion, and reveal your divine glory before all people. Amen

Troubled God, in every generation you call your people to contend against the brutality of sin and betrayal. Keep us steadfast even in our fear and uncertainty,
that we may follow where Jesus has led the way. Amen.

Hymn: Herzliebster Jesu

You may wish to follow the words in this gentle hymn or substitute Leith Fisher’s words below.

Lord Jesus, as the shadows long are stealing,
Across your path, we turn and see you kneeling
With towel in hand, the servant way revealing,

Strange majesty we find at work before us
As we, unnerved, take up the ready chorus,
‘Keep back, great Lord, we rather would revere you
than be so near you.

Yet still you come, on God’s low road persisting,
From force and power so quietly desisting,
Your every act upon love’s way insisting.
Quell our resisting!

Keep safe, well and prayerful!