Why did the disciples ask Jesus, “Is it I, Lord?” in Matthew 26:22?

Answer

At what we often refer to as the Last Supper, Jesus was reclining at the table with His twelve disciples “Now when the evening was come, he sat down with the twelve.”, (Matthew 26:20). While they were eating, He announced to them that one of them would betray Him “And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.”, (Matthew 26:21). They were deeply sorrowful when they heard this, and each of them began to question, “Is it I, Lord?” “And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?”, (Matthew 26:22). The Greek word “meti” can be translated as a denial in question form: “Surely not I, Lord?” While all twelve seemed to be denying that it was they, at least one of them knew that Jesus was referring to him. Judas had already made an agreement with the chief priests to betray Jesus to them (Matthew 26:14-15), and from the time he made that agreement, he was plotting and seeking an opportune time to commit the deed “And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”, (Matthew 26:16).

Jesus knew, of course, that Judas was the one betraying Him and signified it by saying that the one who dipped his hand in the bowl would betray Jesus “And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.”, (Matthew 26:23). John elaborates that Jesus even dipped some food.

Jesus took a piece of bread and gave it directly to Judas, saying that the one to whom He gave the food would betray Him «Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. », (John 13:26). Judas denied he was the one, just as had the other disciples— even calling Jesus “Rabbi”— the term for “teacher” and a sign of respect «Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. », (Matthew 26:25). Jesus answered Judas’s question, “Is it I?” straightforwardly: “You have said it yourself” «Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. », (Matthew 26:25, BSB). Right after that, Jesus ominously told Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly” «And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. », (John 13:27), and Judas went out into the night to betray Jesus «He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. », (John 13:30). The final one who asked the question “Is it I, Lord?” was the betrayer, and Jesus knew it from the beginning.

While all of the disciples denied that they were betraying Jesus, they all made their denial in the form of a question— “Surely it is not I” or “Is it I, Lord?” indicating that perhaps they weren’t entirely certain. Perhaps this was why they were deeply sorrowful «And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? », (Matthew 26:22). While only one of the twelve betrayed Jesus directly, the gospel accounts record that all the disciples abandoned Him, fleeing as they feared for their lives «But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. », (Matthew 26:56). But Jesus knew that would happen, too, and He even told them so that, when it happened, they could remember that He had prophesied that very thing «Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. », (Matthew 26:31). Earlier, they had asked, “Is it I, Lord?” Just a short time after, all abandoned Him.

Even in this, we see the grace of God. Jesus warned them that they would all fall away «Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. », (Matthew 26:31), but rather than condemn them, He prepared them for their task ahead. He told them that, after He rose from the dead, they should meet Him in Galilee «But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. », (Matthew 26:32). Often, we think that we are too strong or too mature to fail, but we are frail, and none of us are without sin «If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. », (1 John 1:8). Rather than stand onOur own strength, we can rely on His grace that, even when we fail, He is gracious to forgive «If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. », (1 John 1:9). Paul reminds us that we must not think we are too strong to fall «Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. », (1 Corinthians 10:12), as none of us are. Yet even with the testing and temptation, God provides the way of escape «There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. », (1 Corinthians 10:13), and even when we falter, He is gracious to forgive and restore according to the riches of His grace «In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; », (Ephesians 1:7). At times, like the disciples, perhaps we are saying to Him, “Is it I, Lord?—surely not.” But He knows us, and He knows our weaknesses. Thanks be to God that He has loved us even still.