Who does God say we are?
Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Bern Leckie answers:
What did I like about today’s passage?
Remember Brexit? You might, especially if it seemed like more than a political decision to you. I think many of us felt challenged about our very identities in the arguments about who we felt close to and whose authority we wanted to accept. Does this define who we are?
What strikes me in this passage is how people react to teaching and challenges from Jesus which seem to make people wonder, not just about what they do but who they are. How can God redefine us? And are we expecting too little from God if we don’t think he can?
For example, Jesus has a stunning challenge to people who look to traditional gender power roles so that men can assume authority over women to decide when a marriage should end. He invokes God’s greater authority to define who married people are – “no longer two, but one flesh.” His disciples think that the implications of this are so challenging that it would be better not to marry. Jesus agrees this is hard. Can we accept that marriage is about being redefined under God’s authority, and can this reshape our sense of power and worth?
Jesus also has a massive identity challenge for the rich man who wants eternal life. Does he want to be defined by riches or by God? I love the way Jesus slides into the challenge with some obvious commandments (don't murder!) and one of the Big Two (love your neighbour) but misses out “love God.” Why? Isn’t that the most important? I think Jesus knew the difference between someone saying they love God and someone who loves God enough to accept his authority so they can be redefined and freshly empowered by him.
What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
God is interested in far more than what we do. His authority and love can transform who we are and what we expect from life as a result. God makes it possible for us to leave everything else behind except relationship with him - that's how valuable a relationship with God is. We know that Jesus understands what human relationship with God is about, because he also talks about Father God in relationship terms.
What am I going to do differently as a result?
Jesus’ story of the workers in the vineyard feels uncomfortably relatable to me when I think of times I might define myself by my work or worth compared with others. I know Jesus has other purposes too for this story of God’s kingdom opening to include freshly repentant sinners and Gentiles, but I know that I need to let God and his love define me and my worth.
Who am I going to share this with?
Questions of who I think I am tend to come up, not just with myself as I wonder about work opportunities to pursue but with lots of people I want to work for and with. I want to see how God can help shape these conversations to be less about my stuff and more about him.