“Is It I?”

    A Message From Pastor John:

This is going to be an Holy Week  for me. On Maundy Thursday, I get the awesome opportunity to play the part of Jesus. And the following night, on Good Friday, I will be portraying Judas. Talk about covering all the emotions of Holy Week! On one night I will be depicting Christ, the one who was betrayed. And the very next night, I will be representing the one who betrayed Jesus. I am finding it interesting thinking about these two important parts of our Easter story.

What was going on in the minds and hearts of Jesus and Judas? Both Jesus and Judas had one goal in mind…to give Jesus over to death. One wanted to pay for the sins of the world. The other wanted to be paid by the world. One knew the power of love, and the other had a love for power. One’s hands would take nails, the other would reach for silver. And in the end, both would die hanging from a tree. Two people would die on Good Friday.
But here is where the big difference happens. Jesus did not stay dead. He arose! He arose!
As we prepare ourselves for Holy Week, let’s make sure and take time to reflect on all the emotions, the feelings, the thoughts of those present at the triumphal entry, the trial, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. Try to imagine what must have been going on in the heart of Jesus as he shared that last Passover with his disciples. And think of what the disciples were feeling when Jesus said, “One of you will betray me.”

One of the most haunting questions in the entire bible was asked by each of the Twelve: IS IT I?
From that point on it was a comedy of errors for the disciples. They fell asleep on watch; they scattered; Peter denied; Judas betrayed. And Jesus died. He died for their sins. Our sins.
And even today, disciples still ask the same questions: Why did this have to happen? Why did he have to die? Whose sin did he die for? IS IT I? And the resurrected Jesus, sitting at the right hand of God, says, “YES”.
Judas would die at his own hands. He had a plan, but it failed. And he never saw the sunrise on that first Easter morning. Jesus would die. But it was part of the plan. And on that first Easter morning…He arose! He arose! Hallelujah Christ Arose!
Serving the risen Lord with you,

 Pastor John