Wednesday: The Plot to Betray

Mark 14:1 tells us that two days before the Passover, the chief priests and scribes were plotting Jesus' demise. Matthew 26:3 tells us more specifically that it was at the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, that this plotting took place. John mentions such plotting the previous week, where Caiaphas utters those ironic words, "It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, than that the whole nation should perish" (John 11:50). Caiaphas is thinking, this man Jesus is going to get the people into a revolutionary frenzy and the Romans are going to come and destroy our nation and holy place (11:48). But ironically, it was Jesus in fact that was the path to salvation.

Matthew and Mark both record a story at this point in which Jesus is dining in Bethany at the home of someone named Simon the leper. The very "name" of this man tells us that Jesus is at work again putting on the inside those that stood on the "outside." A woman comes and anoints Jesus with a flask of oil.

One of Jesus' followers complains. This oil could have been used for the poor. But Jesus diagrees. He is about to be buried, and she is anointing him. She will be remembered wherever the gospel spreads. And so she is, even on 21st century blogs.

This story always makes me think of cathedrals. My church is building a large building right now. To be sure, it will be used to worship and teach for ages. But what of all the poor that could have been fed with the money from building it? I don't know God's will on everything, but this story tells me that sometimes God is worth it.

John's version of the story places it the day before Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem, except he gives specific names. It was Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus who anoints Jesus, and it is Judas Iscariot who questions her.

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, it is on this day, Wednesday, that Judas goes to the priests and promises to deliver Jesus over to them for money--Matthew says 30 pieces of silver. Luke says that Satan possessed him (Luke 22:3). Judas begins to look for opportunities to hand him over.