Devotion for Holy Wednesday 16/04/2025

Psalm 41:9 (NKJV)

Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,

Who ate my bread,

Has lifted up his heel against me.

John 13:26 (NKJV)

Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Today, we will continue to examine the remarkable details that the Messianic Psalms predicted about the last few days and hours of Jesus’s life on earth. Today is also known as “Spy Wednesday,” where Judas spies on his intimate friend, sells his friend, his Lord, for 30 pieces of silver, the same amount needed for buying a slave.

In our recent study of the Book of Genesis in our Caleb groups, we read in Genesis about the “Joseph Narratives” in chapters 37-50. The texts tell the story of Jacob's favourite son, Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, and his eventual rise to power, culminating in the salvation of his family from famine. The narrative explores themes of jealousy, betrayal, forgiveness, and God's plan for his chosen people.

God’s divine providence, grace, and redemption always shine through in the midst of darkness and despair.

As we know, Psalm 41 was written by King David some 1000 years before Christ.

In our broken and fallen world, heartaches, setbacks, and betrayal are common to all.

Then King David put these deep and emotional scars into poetic verses of worship songs!

David wrote, “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

David’s woe was made more bitter because among his enemies were those who had once been a dear friend to him. He knew what it was like when trusted friends – those he had a close relationship with ("who ate my bread") – betrayed him.

David was betrayed not only once but at least twice. Once was by his own son Absalom (2 Samuel 15) and secondly by a trusted adviser named Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:12 and 15:31).

Well-known Bible commentators like John Trapp and Charles Spurgeon have the following quotes for Psalm 41:9:

“What greater wound can there be than a treacherous friend?” (Trapp)

“The kiss of the traitor wounded our Lord’s heart as much as the nail wounded his hand.” (Spurgeon)

The irony is that Jesus knew about the betrayal well before it happened and still loved his disciples. He even stooped low to wash his disciple's feet! He warned them about a traitor among the twelve. Actually, He used these predictions as an added vindication of his nature as the Son of God and the promised Messiah. Jesus also predicted that Peter, one of his key disciples, would deny knowing him three times before the rooster crowed twice that very night.

In Zechariah 11:12, it detailed the betrayal of the Messiah. David, who wrote Psalm 41, lived about 500 years before Zechariah; and Zechariah lived more than 500 years before Christ. Yet the words of these two men form a single prophecy, which was fulfilled in detail in Christ’s last hours.

What we can take home today is that God, in His foreknowledge, knows full well what evil and depravity our human race is capable of. Yet he would not hesitate to lay out a redemption plan for us – a gut-wrenching and brutal one.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Prayer:

Dear Lord, nothing happens without your prior knowledge.

We can’t comprehend how you can love us this much, even extending to Judas and Peter, who failed you. Thirty pieces of silver would buy a slave in those days. Lord Jesus, for 30 pieces of silver, you were sold, yet you are the One who came to set the captives free.

Lord, grant us more faith, faith in your endless mercy, your boundless forgiveness, your unfathomable goodness. Amen.