Earlier in Luke 9, we read of the conversation between Jesus and the disciples in which Jesus asked them, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ Peter identified Jesus as ‘The Messiah of God’. While it is not specifically mentioned by Luke, Jesus’ response to Peter implies that Jesus expected that there could easily have been a misunderstanding over the implications of what Peter had stated. Our passage today takes us further into the territory of Jesus’ identity.
This week's news
Sacha Gervasi’s biographical film Hitchcock
is released this weekend. Alfred Hitchcock – a large man with a distinctive nose and lugubrious face – is portrayed in the film by Sir Anthony Hopkins a man of similar height, but very different physique. Through the wonders of prosthetic makeup – and acting, one might dare to suppose – Hopkins does bring Hitchcock to life. However, while this is true, Sir Anthony is one of those actors – Sir Sean Connery is another
– who never quite ceases to leave himself behind when taking on a role.
One might contrast Welsh actor Michael Sheen, who has ‘become’ Tony Blair, Brian Clough
and Kenneth Williams
on the screen.
As part of an inquiry into the activities of undercover police work, it has been revealed that the identities of deceased children have been assumed by officers. The reason for this practice is that an undercover police officer could ‘prove’ his identity by adopting the birth certificate of someone who would have been his age had the child not died young. The Guardian noted that Frederick Forsyth’sDay of the Jackal spy novel used this same identity fraud.
Following on from the ‘horse’ burger problems some supermarkets were experiencing, it has now been discovered that traces of pork have been detected in beef pasties that were intended for consumption by Muslim prisoners.
Reflection
All of the stories above concern identity in some way: an actor assumes the identity of a character; an undercover police officer assumes the identity of a deceased child born around the same time; a pasty containing pork has assumed the identity of a Halal product.
The use of the word ‘assume’ links us to the identity of Jesus. Gregory of Nazianzus , a fourth century theologian stated about Jesus, ‘that which he has not assumed he has not healed’.
Gregory was responding to a heresy that suggested that Jesus was not fully human and argued that the salvation of all aspects of humanity was dependent on God’s Son having taken on all aspects of humanity.
This lectionary passage from Luke addresses the other side of that same coin. Where Gregory needed to state Jesus’ humanity, the earliest Christians needed to understand and believe that Jesus of Nazareth was also Jesus the Christ and Jesus, Son of God. It was all about identity.
Prayer
Our God,
we give you thanks that in the life and death of your Son
you have experienced all that it means to be human.
We ‘may not know, we cannot tell’
how all your divine nature was distilled
into the life of the child born of Mary,
but we give you our thanks that
in Jesus you have reconciled the world to yourself.
We pray for people
who are living with the consequence of having done bad things.
We pray for those who have made mistakes – accidentally or wilfully –
and whose lives have been changed forever.
Our God
we confess that the face we present to
strangers, colleagues and even friends and family
is not always who we are.
We pray that you will forgive us all deceit
and that we may open ourselves to you
that we might be healed.
Amen.
Questions
Is identity important? Some Christians make a point of seeking out Christian trades persons or professionals to carry out services. Why might this be: solidarity, the likelihood of better service or a sanctified sink repair?
It is said that Salvation Army founder, William Booth, was not fussy about the source of the money that was donated to help his project of bringing good news to the poor. He suggested that the money was ‘sanctified’ as it crossed his desk. What might his reaction have been to receiving funding from the National Lottery?
Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over a speeding offence. Does this negate the work he did as Minister for Energy and Climate Change in the Coalition Government of 2010? Would the past teaching of a minister or priest be devalued if he or she was found guilty of a similar offence?
Action
Denzel Washington plays an airline pilot in the film Flight.
Washington’s Oscar-nominated performance as the pilot who steers a stricken plane to safety, despite being intoxicated, asks questions about identity and about ‘God’s plan’. A group visit to the cinema could be followed by discussion.
Young People
Christian people believe that Jesus was not only fully human but also fully like God. Why do you think that this is important?
Simon Carver is a Baptist Minister in St Albans and takes a particular interest in film.
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