Mistaken Identity

John 8:23

He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.

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The police in New York City,
they chased a boy right through the park.
And in a case of mistaken identity
they put a bullet through his heart.

"Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" by the Rolling Stones, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

A case of mistaken identity... this song was written in 1972. It begins with the true story of a ten year old boy who was shot and killed after being mistaken for a bank robber.

On the human level, the death of Jesus is a case of mistaken identity. The temple elite thought that Rome would remove them from leadership if the people rioted at Passover, a very real possibility. One of the Chief Priests says it is better for one man to die. Who knew they had picked the wrong man and the right man all at the same time.

It's better for one man to die. And after all, there was a new prophet in town and he is filled with the spirit of God. He performs miracles, he heals, and he teaches that the kingdom of God is come. At the same time, he doesn't teach civil disobedience. He told the people to pay their taxes. He tells the people if they are conscripted to carry a soldier's pack one mile he should carry it for two. In meekness and humility, he has become the most seditious prophet ever. Then again, that part's true.

In this passage from John, Jesus tells the people that he is not like them. Anyone who thinks that Jesus is like them is quite wrong. He's divine in ways we can only dream but really can't imagine. He's even human in ways that our sin soaked lives can't approach. We aren't like him, yet because there are people who think he's just another man he will be crucified.

In a case of mistaken identity, they hung him upon the cross.

The good news for us is that this had to happen. This is what was supposed to happen. Untimely death for unjust causes is always a heartbreaker, but it's the resurrection that follows that brings glory to this life.

Being Satisfied

John 14:9-11

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

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Hey, hey, hey,
That's what I say

I can't get no satisfaction,
I can't get no satisfaction.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can't get no, I can't get no.

"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones

We live in a consumer society. If we can't see it, touch it, smell it, taste it, use it, and pass it then we really don't know. If we can't consume it then we really don't believe. There are dozens of reasons why this it true. One of the reasons is that we have seen and heard so many lies that we don't care to trust anymore.

False prophets will do that.

In this passage, Jesus has just told the disciples that their hearts should not be troubled. They don't have to be troubled when they believe in God and believe in Him. Jesus lays out the visual images of the great and wonderful kingdom where all believers will be citizens. Subjects to the King of kings now, we will be subjects in the Kingdom of Glory forever. But then Thomas and Philip get all "Triple A" on Jesus and ask for directions.

Are they not buying into the imagery? Are they looking for the Kingdom to be founded on Earth here and now? Unless they were witty enough to ask for metaphorical directions to the metaphorical dwelling place (which is doubtful) they were asking Jesus to program the GPS and send them to their place in the Son. Give them credit, they tried. Oh they tried and they tried and they tried and they tried. But of course, if they were looking for a room with an ocean view, they were disappointed.

Philip finally gets tired and asks to speak to the Lord's manager, the next guy up the corporate food chain. He want's satisfaction and if he sees the Father he will be satisfied. Jesus answers, "Don't you know me?"

"Don't you know who I am?" is the cry of every "D-List" celebrity who ever got arrested. but this is not what Jesus asks. From friend to friend, Jesus asks Philip if after all this time did he still not understand what was going on. The kingdom was breaking all around them. Signs and wonders surrounded them. The words, the works of Jesus don't come from him, they come from God above! They are the words of the Father. The father is with them.

And even if they don't get that everything they had done had come from the Father, they just needed to remember everything they had done together and that should be enough.

We seek satisfaction, when satisfaction lives all around us. This is the cry to stop and smell the roses, this is the cry to see that even in the quietest moment God reigns and be not just satisfied, but joyful.