Hosanna Restoration Church

One thing is for certain, and that is that Jesus did not have an identity crisis. He knew who He was and He knew whose He was. He was, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Might God, and Everlasting Father. He was the Son of God, and He came to tell the world that the time of the Lord’s favor had come. Still, they called Him Jesus.

It was God’s idea that Jesus be the name above all names. Consequently, some people swooned when they heard that He was coming, and others just could not adjust to the transition from the boy next door to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Some were sure He was at least a prophet or John the Baptist come back from the dead, but even then not many jumped on the idea that He was The Son of God. They called Him Jesus but He knew who He was.

Jesus was the ideal Christian. He was the prototype. He was the first of many Christians to come. He spent His entire ministry telling people, “Follow Me!” He did not have an identity crisis, but I think most Christians, including me, do!

When I was a kid, I used a tie a towel around my neck and pretend to be Superman, but I have never pretended to be Jesus. I have never imagined myself the way that He said I should be. I once heard a man tell that Jesus had challenged Him to play His role in his own imaginations. That was too much of a stretch for me. But I think that is the very thing that limits us.

We see us as ourselves. I see me as Roger, but God sees me as one who the Spirit of the Lord is upon. How do you see yourself? There are times when I reach out to someone and I know it must be the Lord, because I feel such compassion flowing through me, but then I am quick to remind myself and others that I am no one. That sounds humble, but really if I think about it, how can I be no one if Christ is in me. Paul said, “I am what I am because of Him.” Has the scripture been fulfilled in our lives? Have we been born again? If we have been born again, who are we? What do we expect? What should we expect? Are we doing what God knows we are capable of? Do we know what we are capable of?

The religious leaders kept saying that Jesus was not who Jesus said He was. Many of the people declared that He was only Jesus, the boy next door. In some places they limited the power of God to almost nothing because of their unbelief! This was not because God was not just as powerful, but because God will not force Himself on people. This never stopped Jesus, and we should not let it stop us either.

Who are we in Christ? What has He shown us that we can and should do? Did He tell us to go and show the Lord’s favor? Did He tell us that we would receive power? Are we giving the world a true view of the favor of God? Are we presenting a true picture of Jesus and creating an excitement over the opportunity to experience His presence every day, all day long?