John 18:33-37
Meanwhile, the apostles were meeting
regularly at the Temple in the area known as Pilate went back into the
palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”
Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”
Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”
“My
kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If
it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to
the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”
Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”
Jesus
answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the
world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for
truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Last night, we had a
birthday dinner for my niece, Jasmine. Timothy was running around in a
“dress-up” costume, pretending to be some imaginary character. He said,
“You can call me Dr. Evil…or just ‘E’…but don’t call me XYZ (I cannot
remember the other name).” I’ll be honest, I had no clue who he was…or
whether he was really “evil” - or a good guy. And he did little to give
me any insight beyond what names I should use to address him.
Who
are you? Who do people think you are? Do they know you by the
reputation others have assigned to you…and is it a favorable one? Are
you known as a “good person” or someone who is “nice”? Conversely, have
others heard that you are NOT a decent person…that you are unkind,
arrogant, pretentious, judgmental, dishonest, or self-serving - and not
to be trusted? Have people formed opinions about you based on your
demeanor – and have these sometimes been unfair or inaccurate? Do others
have any CLUE that you are a follower of Jesus?
Here’s the
thing…people ARE watching – and forming instant opinions. Right or
wrong, we all pay attention the opinions of others…and sometimes, these
color OUR thoughts. Each of us has a set of criteria by which we
evaluate others…and quite often, there is no room on this list for
actual truth. I think on some level, Pilate knew who Jesus really
was…but he would not allow himself to go against the opinion of others
and stand up for the truth. There was no attempt by Jesus to deceive…He
never hides the truth of Who He is – or His message. But I think that
there are times when we “put on a costume,” so to speak…and show others
who we want them to see, rather than who we truly are – much less who Christ calls us to be!
We
downplay – or even belie – our faith in Jesus in favor of a more
popular demeanor and stance. We hide the truth of Christ. We laugh at
the offensive joke… show up where we know we shouldn’t…look the other
way when we know something wrong is being said or done - and even step
over others to make ourselves look better. We gossip, judge,
discriminate, glorify people and actions that are anything BUT worthy of
any credit or recognition. And worst of all…we do a lot of these
things while calling ourselves Christians and claiming the name of
Jesus!
We are not seven-year-olds in a costume pretending to be
some imaginary character. Many of us are saved and sanctified believers
who are supposed to be Disciples of Christ who share His truth with
others. We are supposed to be transparent, unabashed proclaimers
of Jesus’ message who leave no question about Who we
serve…representatives of the King who doesn’t belong to this world but
came to save it for God’s Heavenly Kingdom. People should be able to
recognize us readily as Christians…as followers of Christ who know His
voice - and willingly obey Him.
Who ARE you…and who do
others think you are? Are you in need of an “identity makeover?” Will
this be the day that you take off your “dress-up costume” and ask God to
help you become the person He designed - and Christ redeemed? Don’t you
think it should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
No comments:
Post a Comment