Wednesday…Jesus anointed at Bethany/Judas makes a deal to betray Jesus

The Anointing

While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, a man who had a serious skin disease, a woman approached Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive fragrant oil. She poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw it, they were indignant. “Why this waste? ” they asked. “This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor.”

But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for Me. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me. By pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she has prepared Me for burial. I assure you: Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Matthew 26:6‭-‬13 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.26.6-13.HCSB

Many people often forget that anything happened on Wednesday, but there are two major events that took place. The first was the anointing of Jesus at Bethany.

While He was relaxing at the table with His disciples, a woman breaks open an expensive jar of oil and pours it over Jesus’ head. Immediately, the disciples become upset at what they see as a waste, but Jesus blesses the woman and reminds them that He will not be with them (physically) for very long.

Whenever we have an opportunity to give blessings in Jesus’ name; we should. Sometimes we get caught up on the costs that we forget the reward of the blessing. Jesus knew His days were numbered, and allowed the woman to prepare His body for what was coming.

We may not have every opportunity to serve Jesus later, so if we get an opportunity we should take it then. Do not wait! Serve Him now!

Judas Plots

Then one of the Twelve — the man called Judas Iscariot — went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you? ” So they weighed out 30 pieces of silver for him. And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.
Matthew 26:14‭-‬16 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.26.14-16.HCSB

The second thing that happened on Wednesday took place as a result to the first. Judas could not get over the cost of the oil, and probably thought he had been cheated somehow. Some think that he may have simply wanted to stop Jesus before they all got into some kind of trouble with the authorities.

Whatever his motive; this is the point when he sought to betray Jesus. Judas would make a deal to hand over Jesus for the cost of thirty (30) pieces of silver.

Sometimes we give up Jesus for the pursuit of worldly things as well. It is sad to think of ourselves as Judas, but it happens more than we care to admit. Judas chose financial gain over Jesus, and so do we sometimes!

We must remember that our rewards are not here, but stored up in heaven.