THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Lord, this day of Holy Week is celebrated as Good Wednesday, for on this day, You were anointed with costly perfumes by Mary, a devoted follower. To prepare Your body for burial, she anointed Your head with oil and washed Your feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. As usual, Your disciples remained clueless as to what she was doing. Not understanding her loving actions, they were quick to criticize her motive as wasteful. One disciple, Judas Iscariot, sanctimoniously complained the perfume could have been sold for a year’s wages, and the money “given to the poor.” You saw through his ruse, giving him a well-deserved rebuke.

“Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”— Matthew 26:10-13 (NLT)

Lord, how long had Judas entertained thoughts of betraying You? Did Your rebuke send him over the edge? You prayed all night before choosing Your twelve apostles, yet You stated one of your chosen ones was a devil. Scriptures teaches on this Holy Wednesday, Satan entered Judas, driving him to follow through on his diabolical plan, (Luke 22:3).

But it was part of Your plan all along. Without the betrayal, would there possibly have been no crucifixion? Without the crucifixion, there would have been no burial. Without the burial, there would be no resurrection. And without Your resurrection, we would still be lost in our sins and separated from You. But You did rise from the grave on Easter Sunday, holding the keys to death and the grave and giving eternal life to all who believe.

We are grateful for Holy Wednesday, Lord. Amen.