Identity Revealed

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Scripture:

Mark 14:60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 61 But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 Jesus said, “I am; and
‘you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power,’
and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’”

Observation:

Mark’s entire gospel is an unveiling of the identity of Jesus. It takes a long time for those who are closest to him to truly understand who he is. The religious leaders never allowed themselves the benefit of the doubt. They simply wrote Jesus off and rejected everything that he said, never considering whether he was telling the truth. 

In an odd twist, those who rejected Jesus did declare that the Messiah had to be the Son of God. For those who would receive Jesus, we can learn from his accusers’ rejection. The true identity of Jesus was found in his relationship to the Father — Jesus was and is the Son of God. 

Application:

Something incredibly powerful happens when we declare that Jesus is the Son of God, for in his identity, we find our own. In the incarnation of Jesus Christ we discover the pathway for connection between God and humankind. When we embrace Jesus’ identity we discover that we, too, are children of God. 

This is a powerful moment in everyone’s life. Do we really recognize Jesus for who he is? If we do, then it changes everything. It means that in the midst of a crisis, like the one we are currently living, we have direct access to the Father through the Son. It is in this crisis that we can live in the confidence that we are children of God. 

There was never a promise that we wouldn’t go through suffering, only that God would go with us.  I have to hang onto that when I hear the stories of those who are having such a hard time with this virus. The stories coming out of Italy and other places in Europe are heart-wrenching. For many of us the stories are getting closer to home. People are going to suffer, not just because of the virus but because of the economic challenges that will ensue. It’s during this time that I want to embrace Jesus’ identity and my identity that is found in him. The things of this world do not provide permanence, but my identity in Jesus does, for he bestows on me my identity as a child of the eternal God. 

When Jesus’ identity was revealed it was an invitation to come and join him. His path would lead to the cross, but very soon thereafter, to resurrection and ascension. We will “see the Son of man seated at the right hand of the  Power,’ and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’” I believe that, because I believe in the identity that Jesus revealed. 

Prayer:

Lord, I trust in you today. Amen. 

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