The Word of God answers the question, “Who am I?” I recently heard someone discussing the crime for which Jesus was killed. He was charged and sentenced for referring to God as “Father.” He declared openly that God was his Father. Since we are exploring identity, I thought it would be great to reflect on this. Identity, behavior, and character are interconnected.
“Behold our powerful texts. “John 19:4-7 NIV Once more, Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” [5] When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” [6] As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” [7] The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
Matthew 26:63-68 NIV But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” [64] “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” [65] Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard blasphemy. [66] What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. [67] Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him [68] and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
Religious and political leaders doubted Jesus’ identity, but he remained confident in his origin and purpose.
Let us examine these claims through scripture.
John 5:16-18 NIV. So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. [17] In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” [18] For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Interestingly, these Bible scholars did not recall prophetic scriptures pointing to Jesus, such as.
Psalms 89:26 NIV He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’
John 5:19-24 NIV Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. [20] For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. [21] For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. [22] Moreover, the Father judges no one, life, even so the Son but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, [23] that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. [24] “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has . crossed over from death to life
We see here that unbelief is death, and belief in Jesus is life.
Jesus was deeply connected to His Father and fully identified with Him. He is explicit that his actions have only one purpose: to please the Father.
John 5:25-27 NIV Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. [26] For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. [27] And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
30 NIV-John 5:28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice [29] and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. [30] By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Jesus’ behavior was consistent with His identity, as seen below because he confidently challenges his opponents to believe the works he does!
39 NIV-John 10:31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, [32] but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” [33] “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” [34] Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’? [35] If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— [36] what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? [37] Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. [38] But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” [39] Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
Jesus started his ministry after being called, confirmed, and affirmed as a son of God. This declaration came from the Father.
Luke 3:22 NIV and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Implications For us.
1) We should not let others’ opinions define our identity. Our true identity lies in being the children of God, a concept we’ve repeatedly emphasized in this series.
2) While they condemned him, he did not condemn himself; he was secure in his identity—Romans 8. Identity condemnation did not exhaust Jesus; it led Him to fulfill the will of God. He saw himself through the eyes of the Father. In Christ, every bit of condemning evidence against us is canceled.
3) Our identity and anointing (God’s power and ability) are not based on performance but on our identity in Him by His grace.
4) Our works should be consistent with God’s grace, which teaches us to reject ungodliness.
Who are you? 1 Peter 2:9-12 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
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