Eight Days, Part 4: Wednesday: Beauty in the Betrayal

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

No one wants to be remembered for
the of their life.

What we often forget about Judas:

Judas was as one of the Twelve.

Judas had every opportunity to his direction.

Judas experienced that Jesus ever performed.

Judas chose over personal

A Study in Contrasts   John 12:3-6
³ Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

What Mary saw as , Judas saw as .

Mary chose ; Judas chose …

and it led to the .

The Betrayal   Matthew 26:14-16
¹⁴ Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, ¹⁵ “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.

Another Study in Contrasts

While Judas was conspiring and rejecting,
Jesus was and .

Small Group Questions

1. What’s your favorite aspect of spring?
2. Holy Wednesday is also known as Silent Wednesday. How does God use silence in your life?
3. What other aspects of Judas’ life get lost because of his notoriety?
4. Read the story of John 12 out loud as well as the parallel passage in Matthew 26:6-13. What is God speaking to you about in these moments?
5. Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. What is your devotion to Jesus worth to you? How can you live that out this week?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?