Is It I, Lord?

 

Judas to Betray Jesus

¹⁴ Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples

¹⁷ Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹⁸ He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” ¹⁹ And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

²⁰ When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. ²¹ And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” ²² And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” ²³ He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” ²⁵ Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Was Jesus trying to give Judas an opportunity to change his mind about betraying him? What went through his mind when he heard these castigating words of Jesus, and the answer to his "Is It I?" Evidently he understood that Jesus knew of the betrayal, but steeled his resolve to go through with it. How often do I ignore the truth or give into sin because of my stubbornness?  Do I play the innocent victim with my own "Is It , Lord?"  I don't like what Judas did, but how much like him can I be myself?  Is it true that a piece of Judas lives in each one of us?  If so, may we accept the invitation to repent, lest we tumble into despair as did Judas.

Bro. Rene