Only a little is known about how Jesus spent the last Wednesday of His earthly life. Mark 14:1 states that “After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread”, placing it as the 14th of Nissan in the Jewish calendar. In Matthew 26:2 Jesus says “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
Both accounts thus place this particular day as our Wednesday.
What is known is that Jesus retired to Bethany after he had gone to the temple on Tuesday and taught there for the last times. He spent the day and evening with his friends and disciples, having supper at the house of Simon the Leper and most likely with Lazarus, Martha and Mary of Bethany. A woman came to Jesus and poured precious oil on His Head as He sat at table.
The second thing known is that Judas went to the Pharisees right after Jesus was anointed with the alabaster jar of oil by the woman. Matthew 26:14, “Then, one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you? ‘ ” Judas was with Jesus in Bethany and immediately left to plot against Him.
The first instance is unabashed worship by the woman who may have been Mary. The second is ultimate desertion and betrayal by a chosen disciple. And the Lord Jesus was at each center . He called both “friend” and chose to be with both in the last hours of His life.
I think of the “What if…?” question. What if you knew you had only a few months to live? What would you do? How would you spend the time? What if it were two weeks? Two days?
If I knew I had months or weeks left to live, I would want to be with family and many friends. If it were only 48 hours, only my beloved family. This is how Jesus spent Silent Wednesday in Bethany. He secluded Himself away from the multitude to be with people He loved the most.
Jesus also spent the day in Bethany with grumbling disciples who were indignant at the woman’s extravagant gesture. Jesus spent the time with Judas who was plotting against Him and already counting out thirty pieces of silver in his heart. His love embraced friend and enemy alike.
In my last hours, could I let an enemy into the room. Could I welcome him, knowing I will be betrayed again immediately? Or do I hear only silver coins jingling in another’s pocket and slam shut the door?
On this Wednesday before Easter, I ponder the last Wednesday of my brief life solely in the Light of Jesus’.
Friede Gabbert
From The Sheep Pen 