“Is it I?”

“And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?”” (Mark 14:17–19 ESV)

Because we know the rest of the story, we know that Judas was the one who betrayed our Lord.

What’s interesting is that each one of the disciples seemed to know that they had it in them to betray Him as well.

So do I…and in sorrow I know I’ve betrayed Him often as well.

We betray Him when we (like Moses when he struck the rock) attribute our feelings against people to Him.

We betray Him when we claim His imprimatur on ideas and people that He has not done so Himself.

We are never as vulnerable to such deception than when we believe we are engaging in “holy war” against a perceived enemy of the faith.

I am by nature a conflicted warrior…painfully introverted, yet passionate about corruption and abuse in the church and the cause of any other who are oppressed and poor in spirit or life.

I have wielded the pen as a sword, but the blood on my hands is mixed with that of friend and foe alike.

Too often when fighting for Him, I’ve betrayed Him in the process.

I repent often, but the sword is stuck to my hand…as is the blood.

There is a righteous anger, but we are not great judges of our own righteousness.

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19–20 ESV)

Social media demands constant, fresh content, and it demands it now and without ceasing.

To be successful, you must be deaf to anything outside your “followers”, fast to speak, and everyone knows the money is in the rage you can produce.

Jesus wept.

Let this be a cautionary word…I will answer for much.

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

(Colossians 4:6 ESV)

As we engage in the cultural and religious debates storming about us let us ask the same question the first disciples asked…

“Is it I?”