Is It I – Matthew 26:14-25

I get a great kick out of the story of Pastor Michael Hartwig of Valparaiso, Indiana, describing his bout with pride:

I started visiting a man in a nursing home who had been instrumental in starting the major industry in town. When he died, I was asked to do the funeral service. I was nervous, because I knew our church would be packed with dignitaries.

The service went well, and on our way to the cemetery I began turning in my Bible to the passage I was to read at the graveside. While I was turning to 1 Corinthians 15, the funeral director asked me a question. I could tell he was impressed with the gospel message I had brought. He asked several questions, and I answered each one. I was proud of myself and the job I had done. Here was a man who had listened to hundreds of funeral services, and he singled out mine as being one of the best.

With this on my heart, I stood at the head of the casket with the family and friends in front of me. I asked them to listen to the words of Scripture. I read with a sense of dignity 1 Corinthians 5:1: “It is reported commonly that there are fornicators among you!”

When Jesus tells his disciples that one of them will betray him, it is fascinating to see the response of the disciples.

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

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?” 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.’” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 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.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” (Matthew 26:14-25 ESV)

In stark contrast to Mary and her anointing Jesus with expensive perfume, here is Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ apostles, willing to give Jesus up to the priests for 30 pieces of silver (four months wages for a day laborer, about $7500 in our currency).  What the priests have purchased for such a low amount is a private opportunity to arrest Jesus, which only an insider would know.

It is determined that Judas will turn Jesus over at Passover, so ironically fulfilling John the Baptist’s declaration of Jesus as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.  Jesus is the lamb slain so that death might pass over those who trust in his sacrifice.

Jesus tells everyone that night at the Passover meal, the seder, that one of them is going to betray him and amazingly, with great humility and understanding of their potential to be disloyal, each of the apostles asks if it is him.  But when Judas plays the game and asks, “Is it I, Rabbi?,” Jesus says yes.  Judas thought his betrayal was hidden but it was not hidden to Jesus.  Here was his chance to repent, but he did not.  When Jesus exposes our sin it is for the express purpose of giving us a chance to confess and be cleansed.

An evangelist had come to Edinburgh Scotland, where Alexander Whyte (1836-1921) preached, and criticized the ministers there in his messages. A friend told Whyte, “The evangelist said last night that Dr. Hood Wilson was not a converted man.” Whyte jumped from his chair. “The rascal!” he cried, “ Dr. Wilson not a converted man!” Then the friend reported that the Evangelist also said that Whyte was not converted. At that, Whyte stopped short, sat down, put his face in his hands and was silent for a long time. Then he said to the visitor, “Leave me, friend, leave me! I must examine my heart! “ [from Walking With the Giants, Warren Wiersbe]