Mistaken Identity

So, what’s on my mind?

Odds are that at some point in your life, you’ve come across someone who shares your same name. For some reason, and I promise it wasn’t out of pure narcissism, I recently googled my name and discovered that there is a somewhat well-known musician out there named Chris Hester. But trust me, no one is ever going to mistake my musical abilities for those of someone with real musical talent.

Having the same name as someone else can occasionally lead to a case of mistaken identity. After all, a name tells us what someone is called, but it doesn’t necessarily tell us who someone is.

That thought came to mind this past Sunday as we kicked off our confirmation class with our youth. At one point, we discussed Matthew 16:13-16, where Jesus asks his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” I told the students that this may very well be the most important question they will ever answer.

It is one thing to know Jesus’ name. It is another thing to know who Jesus is. And that is an important distinction for all of us, not just our confirmation students. We can know the stories about Jesus. We can know the Christmas story and the Easter story. We can know the Lord’s Prayer. We can recognize Jesus’ name when we hear it. We can even spend years sitting in church.

But Jesus still asks each of us the same question: Who do you say that I am? Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” That answer changed everything for Peter. And it changes everything for us. Because if Jesus is just a good teacher, then we might admire him. If Jesus is just a historical figure, then we might study him. If Jesus is just a moral example, then we might try to imitate him. But if Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and our Lord, then we are invited to do more than admire, study, or imitate him. We are invited to follow him.

“Who do you say that I am?” It is a question Jesus asked his disciples two thousand years ago. It is a question he still asks us today. And it may just be the most important question we will ever answer.

May God hold you,
(The real) Rev Chris Hester