It's Wednesday of Passover Week. In some traditions, it's also known as "Spy Wednesday."

After a long day of debates and lessons at the temple on Tuesday, Jesus spent today relaxing in Bethany with his friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.

But one disciple was not off the clock. He had work to do.

This disciple was excited about Jesus' new "kingly" tough talk. He loved how Jesus tossed temple tables on Monday and schooled theologians and lawyers on Tuesday. But what really caught his attention was Jesus' fiery talk about the destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21).

This was the political rhetoric Judas Iscariot loved.

But who was this betrayer of the Messiah? What made him tick?

We know little about Judas except that he handled the finances for Jesus' ministry (John 13:29). Judas collected offerings, bought food, and distributed supplies. Although later outed (by John) for pilfering the collection plate, nobody felt Judas was unscrupulous at the time (John 12:6).

He was just one of the guys.

At the infamous final "last supper," Jesus shared how someone would betray him, and yet no one suspected Judas Iscariot. John even openly asked to reveal the betrayer. So Jesus said it was whoever he handed the bread to...and then gave it to Judas. Still, no one caught that cue! Even after Judas left the meal, no one thought he was the traitor (John 13:21-30).

And yet he was.

It's on Wednesday that Judas snuck back into Jerusalem to meet with the chief priests (Luke 22:1-6). Ultimately, Judas agreed to hand over Jesus for "thirty pieces of silver"...the equivalent of several hundred dollars in today's cash.

But why? Why would this disciple betray his own rabbi?

Maybe Judas thought his political maneuver might help, even force, Jesus to assume his Messianic position. Speed things up a little. Force Jesus' hand. Move his Master to move.

It's possible Judas saw this betrayal price as seed money for the "Jesus revolution" he envisioned to come. Sure, he'd siphon off his cut for doing the dirty work, but the rest he'd donate back to Jesus' war chest. Maybe Judas was a bit jealous of Peter, James, and John. Jesus always favored them. This was his chance to shine, to make his mark as a disciple.

Speculative? Absolutely. Possible? You bet.

Judas' problem was that he listened to Jesus but never got the message. He heard what he wanted to hear. He took the teachings that fit his theology, political views, and lifestyle but dismissed the rest. He followed "a" Jesus but never really knew "the" Jesus.

And, if we're honest, there's a "Judas" in us all.  We misinterpret, misunderstand, and misapply Jesus' words too. We pilfer grace and color the truth. We betray and blame Jesus. We don't give him credit. We excuse him. We push our personal agendas for Jesus to fix that, stop this, change so-and-so, and bless our lives.

Is there any difference between a Judas who betrayed and a Peter who denied? Not really. We just no longer name our kids after one of them.

In the end, Judas' political moves left him hanging. He couldn't force Jesus' hand at all. His betrayal kiss ended in heartache...and suicide. What we have is the "tale of two trees"...one planted on the place of the skull (Luke 23:33) and the other rooted in a "field of blood (Acts 1:18-19)."

And it all started today...on "Spy Wednesday"...with the betrayal of a friend no one suspected.

Do you believe it?