Tag: identification

Some “through the bible” thoughts from John 1.

In the first chapter of his gospel, John identifies Jesus as

• The Word
• God
• The Light
• The Lamb of God
• The Son of God
• The Messiah
• The son of Joseph
• A rabbi
• The King of Israel
• The Son of Man

Identifying yourself is a big deal.

• I have to show a driver’s license to visit a doctor or dentist, to travel, or to vote.
• Everyone who sees me in the doctor’s office confirms my identity by asking my birthdate.
• I’ll often have to complete two-step verification, with a password plus a code sent to my phone, to identify myself to a website.
• A fingerprint or facial recognition grants you access to your phone.

After waiting a short while to see a doctor, a nurse came out and said, “William?” Three of us stood up. With a smirk, she said, “Just a minute,” and disappeared until she had found a last name.

I’ll be preaching at the church from which I retired three-and-a-half years ago. Enough time has passed that many will have no idea who I am, other than a preacher. Should I identify myself? Or just let them ask someone else, “Who’s this guy?” Or better yet, “Where’d they get this guy from?”

It’s not long into Jesus’s ministry that people begin to ask, “Who is this?” Who is this who forgives sin? Who is this that the wind and the sea obey him? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Who is this riding into Jerusalem on a donkey? Are you a king? Are you the Christ?

All those IDs didn’t do him much good, I guess.