Introduction
Wednesday of Holy Week is often referred to as “Silent Wednesday.” Unlike Sunday’s celebration, Monday’s cleaning, and Tuesday’s focused teaching, there is no account of Jesus’ public ministry on this day in Scripture. Instead, the Gospel stories focus on two private, dramatically different actions: A woman’s costly anointing of Jesus, and Judas’ covert intention to betray Him. On this day, heaven observes both the purest loyalty and the deepest betrayal on this calm Wednesday. This is a reflection on these two incidents.
1. A woman’s expensive anointing of Jesus (Matthew 26:6–13)
When Jesus was at the home of Simon the leper in Bethany, a woman broke an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ head. While others call it a waste, Jesus calls it “a beautiful thing.” He mentioned that what she did will ‘be told in memory of her.’ (Mark 14:8–9). The lesson to learn here is that God honours devotion born from love, not convenience. The woman’s act was not performed in a temple, synagogue, or crowd, but in a small house, away from public attention.
2. Judas secretly decided to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14–16)
On the same day that a woman poured out her treasure, Judas sold his loyalty for thirty pieces of silver. He accomplished this covertly, beginning with minor compromises, quiet resentments, and hidden greed. Even though Judas had walked with Jesus for years, his heart had moved away from Him, and he no longer saw the significance of the One he followed.
The lesson here is that, while Wednesday, two days before Jesus’ crucifixion, appeared silent, the events of the day were preparing for His death: Judas makes his decision, the cross draws near, prophesy unfolds, and heaven moves behind the scenes. This is to demonstrate that silence is not absence, and that God accomplishes some of His most profound work in stillness.