A place for self-identity in Jesus’ community

 

A place for self-identity in Jesus’ community

When Jesus chose his twelve Apostles, they were immediately included in corporate identity. The obligations for such identification would be "they might be with him", "he might send them out to preach" and "to have authority to drive out demons" (Mark 3:14,15). These were unique features of their corporate identification within the circle of Apostles. To all those who came into the said corporate identity (the disciples) Jesus went further to say, "If anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross every day, and follow me continuously (Luke 9;23 ISV)" Jesus categorically says "deny himself" which is essential to belong to the corporate identity. If so, what place and importance did Jesus give to the self-identity of his followers?

The first expectation Jesus had from his disciples was "to be with him". Why be with him? Surely they could have learnt the skills of "preaching the good news and driving out demons" as day scholars. It was in the experience of "to be with him" the disciples captured the essence of Jesus' self-identity.   In Mark 8, we read for the first time how the disciples identified the uniqueness of Jesus by declaring him as the Messiah through Peter. The rest of the community who were around Jesus did not know this unique identity of Jesus which the disciples only knew. Jesus was overjoyed in seeing the disciples discovering who he is. However, in Mark 8:30  we find Jesus very emphatically saying this too -  "And he charged them that they should tell no man of him." Why is Jesus hesitant about the disclosure of his identity to the wider community?   One of the reasons was "that they might keep the new faith to themselves till it took deep root in their souls."  The disciples had yet many more things to learn about their Master. Especially the faith in his Godhead would be much easier "when his death should have been followed by his glorious resurrection and ascension." Therefore, it is safe to say Jesus was willing to disclose his identity within the right conditions. There was no fear in Jesus to disclose his unique identity to at the appropriate time, to the appropriate audience for the appropriate purpose.

During the three years that Jesus spent with his disciples, he also worked with them to help in discovering their own identity within the corporate identity as Apostles. While they had their names, to some Jesus gave an additional name. For example, Simon was called Peter, James and John he named them as Boanerges which means "sons of thunder". Was Jesus attempting to highlight the uniqueness of an individual through the names he gave them?

I would like to highlight on the name that Jesus gave Simon the Galilean Fisherman. In John 1: 42 we read the following concerning Peter: "….and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, He said, "You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas" -which means "Rock". (Holman Christian Standard Bible). Did Simon do justice to the name that Jesus gave him? When Peter denied Jesus three times, where was that rock? Simon was well known for his impulsiveness as seen in the Scriptures. His reasoning was more through the feelings than through his mind. He would first speak and then only he will start thinking. Is this the "rock" that Jesus wanted to see in Peter?

As we turn through the pages of Peters' life, we can gather the data on how Peter reflected the true meaning of a rock in his self-identity.

Peter was authentic, He was always himself. He never pretended; he never tried to be what others wanted him to be. He said what he thought, and not what other people wanted him to say or hoped that he would say.

Peter was often an unpredictable Character. One moment he jumps out of a little tossing boat to walk on the waves of a raging sea but the next moment he's in trouble up to his neck and freaks out calling for help. There were times when Peter sounded very heroic - "No!" Peter insisted. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" Matthew 26:35 (NLT). However in a few hours later he flatly denied his Master. That was the way with Peter as an impulsive and emotional person.

Peter was deeply devoted to Jesus. He did not want Jesus to get into uncomfortable corners. In Luke 8:45 we meet the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years coming through the crowd, touched the hem of the Lord's robe, and found healing. Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!".  I see this intervention of Peter as follows, "What an embarrassing moment for my master" at least Peter thought so when everyone had denied the act. Peter stood up with some advice for his master to understand the scenario differently though the Lord had a reason for the search! When Jesus was arrested, all the disciples deserted their master. It was only Peter who tiptoed to the courtyard of the high Priests out of his devotion. Though his denial is utterly shameful, I admire his single-handed intervention and devotion to stay close to his arrested Master which no other disciple did. The point I want to make here is, Peter the Rock was ever ready to step in to help his Master because of his deep devotion.

Another quality I like in Peter is his wholeheartedness. At times he was on the wrong side of the fence, but other times he was on the right side of the fence. The remarkable thing about Peter is, he was never on the fence. The lukewarmness and indecisiveness in people is a huge problem our society faces today. The corporate sector including the Christian Church suffers at the hands of leaders who are unable to make up their mind with clear cut decisions on matters of importance.

The greatest shortcoming of Peter was his excessive self-confidence. He was always sure of himself and uttered statements which put others into great embarrassment.  In Matthew 26:33 Peter was dead sure of himself. He seemed to think that others might fail – John and James and even his brother Andrew – but failure on his part was out of the question. He believed that he was able and strong. But he could not sustain his confidence.

What a bewildering mixture Peter was!

The willingness of Jesus to take this mixture of weakness and strength, hope and despair, sinner and saint, into his creative hands and say, "I will make a solid character out of you." Is remarkable. "You are Simon — you shall be called Cephas (the rock). Jesus was willing to provide the opportunity for Simon to take the rock-like character to the next level. First of all, He showed Peter his potential. He showed Peter the capacity he had, to turn his weakness into strength, pride into humility and ugliness into beauty. The focus was on the transition from "You are" to "you shall become." Just as Who you are now (Simon) is important, who you will become (Cephas the rock) has greater importance according to Jesus. Jesus not only gave Peter an indication of his potential, but He also kept on supporting and giving fresh opportunities, even when Peter had failed many a time. The progress Peter made was often disappointing. The graph of Peter's life was not a straight upward ascent. It was more like that of a patient with a fever. But Peter kept on trying. He never let any fall become final! The Lord knew that Peter would never reach the desired goal by his strength.

With Peter committed to this path, the Lord kept on working on in Peter. How Jesus was willing to hand over his sheep to Peter after the resurrection is a clear example of that (John21:15-17) The difference between those who go down in defeat and those who gain victory is not that those in the first group always fail and those in the second never do. Rather, those in the second group pick themselves up and start anew, while those in the first group say, it's useless. Peter won the battle of life because he refused to quit. Simon the Galilean Fisherman became a Rock not because he never failed, but because Jesus kept on working on Peter's inner being even when he had failed.

In conclusion, I testify to the fact that there are so many who knew me as a very mischievous child and a teenager. They are now dismayed at my decision to serve God. I was always my self and had no reservation in allowing others to know who I was. However, I do admit that I am now rather nervous when they tell my wife and children what mischief I had played in my young days!!! But I am quite certain that the Lord knew all of that and despite the same, he saw the "rock' I could be and was willing to fashion me in his way until I turn out to be what he wants me to be. While serving in leadership positions in the church, I was surprised for the way I became so bold to stand up alone by my self in dealing with certain issues in Church administration.  I still cannot fathom from where I gathered the courage to speak on national issues to the extent of almost saying “Thus sayeth the Lord”. During the 52 days undemocratic government in October – December in 2018, I was challenged by a civil society leader to speak to the Political Leaders that were in conflict, which I fulfilled. My Clinical Pastoral Education has taught me to understand and accept myself as a person with positives and negatives. I am still discovering the growing edges in my personal life which needs to be handled and guided carefully. I did make mistakes and blunders at times, but I never gave up, as I knew my Lord would not give up on me.

 

Rev. Asiri P. Perera

December 3, 2020