“Is it I, Lord?” This is the question each disciple asked Jesus at the Last Supper, when Jesus predicted, “One of you will betray me.” It is an interesting question for them to ask. It shows that each one of them was capable, in a moment of weakness, of betraying their Lord and Savior. In deed, one of them (Judas) did betray Jesus; while another one (Peter) denied Jesus three times. It shows that though they were disciples who loved and believed in Jesus, they were still sinners who could fall to temptation.

“Is it I, Lord?” It is a question we should ask of ourselves. For we are just as capable of betraying Jesus as Judas was, and we are just as capable of denying Jesus as Peter was. That doesn’t mean we are bad Christians, or we don’t believe in Jesus. It means we are sinners who need the forgiveness Jesus gave on the cross. For it is the sin of Judas and Peter, and all of our sins, that made the cross necessary. As the third verse of the hymn “Ah, Holy Jesus” says, “Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee; I crucified thee.”

Our mid-week Lent series is called “The Denier and the Betrayer”. Through our mid-week services we will examine the lives of Judas and Peter and their relationship with Jesus. The schedule for our services:

Service of Ashes / Holy Communion Judas - “Palm Sunday Disappointment”

Immanuel, Kimballton St. Paul, Irwin

Peter & Judas - “The Call of Disciples” Judas - “The Betrayal”

St. Paul, Irwin Bethlehem, Jacksonville

Peter - “Who Do You Say that I Am?” Peter - “The Denial”

Bethany, Rural Kimballton Bethany, Rural Kimballton

Judas - “Why was the Ointment Wasted?” Peter - “Forgiven”

Bethlehem, Jacksonville Bethlehem & St. Paul

Peter - “In the Garden of Gethsemane”

Immanuel, Kimballton

The services are at 7:30 pm. (There is a soup supper before the mid-week services, except for Ash Wednesday.) Hope to see you there!

Your friend in Christ,