Spy Wednesday
Posted on Apr 15, 2025 by Shari Van Baale
Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday, then progresses to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. But have you heard of “Spy Wednesday”?
When preparing services for Holy Week, I came across information on this little-known day. According to Augsburg Fortress, Wednesday in Holy Week “was formerly called ‘Spy Wednesday,’ an allusion to the gospel accounts in which Judas is identified as the betrayer of Jesus.”
This piqued my interest, and I began looking for more information. I found this graphic on a Catholic website that offers more information.
This day is still commemorated in many denominations. Wikipedia lists it as part of Holy Week.
According to Christianity.com, “Even if you grew up in a liturgical church that observed Holy Week, you may not be familiar with the term ‘Spy Wednesday.’ … According to Christian beliefs, Judas agreed to betray Jesus to the authorities on this day, leading to Jesus' eventual arrest and crucifixion. The term ‘spy' reflects the idea that Judas was acting as a betrayer or informant. In the biblical account, Judas agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.” (Matthew 26:14-16)
Christianity.com also notes the importance of Judas to the events of Holy Week. “Judas plays a crucial role in the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. By choosing to betray Jesus to the Jewish authorities, Judas helped set the plot in motion for Jesus to be crucified. The moment where Judas agrees to betray Jesus is one of the key dramatic moments in the Passion story, setting the stage for the Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane.”
Spy Wednesday is an important day in Holy Week, as it marks the beginning of the events that lead to Jesus’ crucifixion. While not as commemorated as the other days, it is still an important date to note.
Shari Van Baale
Salem Communications Coordinator