Coronavirus – identity in the hour of trial

Let me share something of my memories as an illustration of the topic. When I was an early teenager, my head was full of dreams, who I would be and how I would combine the career of a Formula 1 driver with being a leading film director.

But because I did not care about myself and walked in the cold in a thin jacket, I suffered from chronic bronchitis and coughed terribly. I remember walking down the street and thinking sadly that I would not live long, my days were numbered. I got very tiny in the face of the supposed problems.

My self-esteem landed very low and paralyzed me.

The topic is particularly relevant today, in the time of pandemics. The answer to the question of who we are remains our first and greatest need. The way we answer this question has a major impact on our well-being and functioning. Circumstances can make us feel very tiny.

Let’s apply to this problem the evangelical mind, the e-mind – the mind of Christ, presented in the bestseller of all time, the Bible. This unique, completely coherent way of thinking can be presented in four threads: (1) What is God ready to give us? (2) What are the obstacles for us to receive this? (3) What did God do to remove obstacles? (4) What should we do to remove obstacles?

What is God ready to give us?

Since we have Easter, let’s see how Jesus Christ dealt with the subject of identity in the most severe circumstances of the last hours before the execution. It’s Friday morning – the day he was crucified. Let’s look at the events recorded in the Gospel of Luke.

The Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying, “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them… “If I ask a question, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seatem at the right hand of the power of God.” And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.” Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony?” (Luke 22)

What is the situation here? Supreme Council – a large, wide group and one man in front of them, in bondage. It’s a way to show someone where his place is. The average person would feel very tiny under these circumstances.

But what is going on here? The roles are reversed. Council members begin. “Are you the Messiah?” Jesus says, “If I ask you, you won’t give me an answer.” Who is interrogating whom here? Jesus turns up the atmosphere: “In a moment I will sit at God’s right hand.” He brings voltage to the highest level. They say, “Are you the Son of God?” His answer is short: “Yes. I am.” Jesus finished the interrogation. Why is there such certainty in Him? Because He knew who He was.

What does this have to do with us? I think that each of us thought at least once to be someone greater than possible. “I wish I was very rich.” “I wish I was … a professor at the Jagiellonian University.” “I wish I had my column in the New York Times.” In this place you can put any other dream.

But what Jesus said to the Supreme Council that day illustrates an absolutely remarkable truth: You can be someone of the greatest of all possibilities, beyond your wildest imaginations… today. How? Jesus said, “Am I Son of God? Yes I am! ” What is our counterpart? Here’s a cluster of phrases from an all-time bestseller on the subject:

As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name (John 1) See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. (1 John 3) The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8),

Can you be more than a child of Someone who is the greatest? No! Can you become one today? Yes. This is the best satisfaction for the deepest need. If this happens and we know deep down who we are, it will give us the certainty Jesus had when He reversed the roles. We will also reverse the roles. In the most difficult circumstances our identity and the answer to the question of who we are will prove to be an amazing foundation.

What is the obstacle that we receive it?

Let’s see what happened to Jesus during the hour of trial. After the High Council he was led before Pilate, then Herod:

Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other. (Luke 23)

King Herod. How did he approach Jesus? A bit like an equal. He was glad that Jesus had been sent to him. Perhaps he will be able to do something for Jesus and Jesus will do something for him. Some miracle. “Let’s talk like equals. We both grow above average, over the crowd. You are somebody and I am somebody.”

Herod sought acceptance from extraordinary people. “You are amazing, I also think I’m extraordinary. So let’s support each other, give each other distinctions for achievements.” Herod was hungry for recognition. However, Jesus was not drawn into this mutual support. He was completely independent of it. He didn’t say a word. He was completely over. Why? Because He knew who He was.

Herod was disappointed. He did not receive Jesus’ support. In that case, one thing remains to be done: show that Jesus’ opinion does not count, that Jesus is nobody. That’s why he humbled Him.

Herod did not find mutual support in Jesus, but he found it in the person of Pilate. That day they became friends because they met each other’s need to be someone.

God has something wonderful for us. The greatest identity is to become His child. However, there is an obstacle. Man has chosen his own path, independent of God, his own way of answering the question of who he is: mutual acceptance, the company of mutual adoration.

The Bible says: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3). This is not a temporary freak, but the general line of life of every person. God created us for fellowship with Him, but we chose an independent way of life. As a result, fellowship with God was broken.

What did God do to remove the obstacle?

Jesus was confronted with the High Council, prosecutor Pilate, King Herod, but now he had to face the most difficult:

Pilate … said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death…” But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted… And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23)

Jesus had to face the most difficult now – the crowd. The crowd has a special impact, incomparably greater than previous situations. If a significant percentage of society considers you to be the pest that needs to be removed … However, not everyone considered Jesus to be a pest, for example, some women. How did they react? They wailed and wept for Him. So they communicated: we feel sorry for You, You lost. The crowd’s message was crushing.

However, Jesus does not pity himself. He is sure that He is taking the right path against the whole world. He knows who He is and what His calling is. This is how one of his disciples, Peter, put it:

„Christ… died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 P 3) God reached out over the abyss that separates us from Him, by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, thus paying the penalty for our sins.

What should we do to remove the obstacle?

We are currently living in a reality that shocks us. Nobody expected it. What do we need now, apart from such things as solving safety, health and material problems? The most important is the answer to the question “who am I”. Whether we realize it or not, this is our greatest need we have. A person may lack food, may lack health, but when he knows who he is …

Maybe until now you thought, you had a good, satisfactory answer to the question of who you are. However, now, at the hour of trial, your reaction to the circumstances is different from the reaction of Jesus, which we saw in the passages of the Gospel of Luke. You don’t feel safe, it’s easy to tear down your peace, it’s hard for you to function.

If so, consider: God offers you something most extraordinary that you can have. God can give you awareness and conviction that you are such, that you cannot be greater, that you are in the best position, and that no one will ever take it away from you. To be a child of God!

But first you have to really become one, so that it is not just playing with words. In the Gospel of John we read: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God… (John 1). Wanting to become a child of God … will not happen by itself. You need to do what God’s Word says: receive Christ.

A ritual will not solve the problem. Everything we receive from God, we receive through faith and only through faith. How can you receive Christ by faith? Christ said: “I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me.” (Rev 3)

Christ is knocking on your heart right now. What can you do? You can invite Him to come in. You can express this invitation with the words of this prayer:

“Christ, I need You! I recognize my sinfulness. I open the door to my life and accept You as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins by dying on the cross for me. I am asking for your direction in my life. Make me what you want me to be.”

If these words express the desire of your heart, address them personally to Christ. It really is your greatest need – the answer to the question “who am I”.

•

Grzegorz Bednarczyk

•

Grzegorz Bednarczyk is involved in Christian teaching in the “Send” Christian Community in Bielsko Biała, he gave about 2000 lectures on the Bestseller of All- time, which is the Bible, exploring the secrets of hermeneutics, examining texts in original languages (even the entire Romans, word by word), trying to translate them into the language of modern man (PhD in communication of concepts at KUL), but primarily because these words have become a personal experience. More articles and lectures at www.coek.pl.