Lord, It is I!

"And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?" Mat. 26:22

In the quiet of the Upper Room, where the air hung heavy with sorrow and anticipation, a question pierced the Passover feast, reverberating through the ages. It echoes down through time, reaching the chambers of our very own hearts: "Lord, is it I?"

This question, born of the disciples' troubled hearts as Christ predicted His betrayal, invites me to profound and personal reflection. It is not a question of history or curiosity but a question for myself. As the disciples looked from one face to another, bewildered and distressed, I’m summoned to a gospel mirror to study my own reflection.

That night, Christ's announcement, "One of you will betray me," unveiled a tragedy—the heart-stopping truth of the human condition and the genuine potential for treachery that lurks in all our hearts. The question, "Lord, is it I?" turns into a mirror. A mirror reflecting our own sins and doubts. It challenges the mask of self-assured righteousness, prompting a humble look at our spiritual state.

This scene should cause me to consider how often I, too, have sat at the table with Christ, partaking of His blessings, only to betray Him in thought, word, or deed. Like the disciples, I am capable of profound faith and yet also profound failure. When asked rightly, the question then turns from identification of the betrayer to personal examination and repentance. "Lord, is it I?"

It is a good question for us all: "Lord, is it I?"

Asking this question in our deepest parts is a confession of self-doubt and a plea for Divine help. It acknowledges our inability to understand the riddle of our own hearts. It announces our need for the Spirit's searchlight of grace. Asking, "Lord is it I?" opens ourselves to the inspection of God's Spirit to see us as we are, inviting Him to reveal any unfaithfulness, any hidden inclinations toward betrayal in our own souls.

This question exceeds its context. It becomes a fulcrum of spiritual reflection for each believer. As we approach Good Friday, and then the Lord’s Supper, let us ask this question in humble sincerity. Let us seek to have our hearts cleansed and deepen our commitment to the One who, though betrayed, remains forever faithful.

Ask the question yourself, “Lord, is it I?”

What answer comes back?

In asking this question, we must brace ourselves for the inevitable discovery that, in the hidden recesses of our hearts, the echo comes back, not as a question but as a confession: "Lord, It is I!" But dear one, this acknowledgment is not defeat—it is a victory. It is in admitting our own capacity for sin that we truly grasp the necessity and depth of Christ's redeeming work.

Like the disciples, our spirits are stirred when we hear the prophetic announcement of betrayal. The journey from questioning, "Lord, is it I?" to admit, "Lord, It is I!" marks the graduation from self-deception to heartfelt repentance. Recognizing our own frailty and potential for betrayal is where we find the true meaning of grace.

As we confront the reality of "It is I!" it must not lead us to despair but to a deeper dependence on Christ's sacrificial atonement. Such a confession brings us face to face with the enormity of our sin and the greater enormity of God's forgiving love. The very act of acknowledgment becomes where grace takes root, changing our guilt into a testament to God's unending mercy.

In this naked moment of cold self-revelation, we must remember that Christ's response to our betrayal is not condemnation. It’s a gospel look of hope. The same Savior who faced imminent betrayal with steadfast love extends His hands to us, offering His blood for our sins and His life for our peace.

Don’t let this admission be a cause for shame. Let it be a catalyst for fresh repentance, driving us closer to the One who can heal our sin and brokenness and redeem our failings.

Friends, let us approach this revelation with contrite hearts. Let our "Lord, It is I!" lead us out of the shadow of guilt and into the light of God's free and abounding grace, where every sin is met with the blood-bought promise of forgiveness and every betrayal with the hope of new life in Christ.