A Case of Mistaken Identity

“All the city was stirred saying “Who is this? A very good question then and now. And the crowds said: ”This is the prophet, Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee”

It was, I think, a case of mistaken identity. The multitude had participated in a demonstration –a demonstration organized by Jesus himself. In fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy Jesus enters Jerusalem as Messiah. He comes to inaugurate a Kingdom-a peaceable Kingdom-symbolized by the donkey.

Those who lined the road from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem had other ideas. They wanted to see the triumphal entry into Jerusalem of a national saviour-a King of David’s line- a liberator. Obviously Jesus’ action aroused great excitement. Here at last was the one to set Israel free. The Kingdom had been inaugurated. As for the Romans they would be out, as for the Gentiles they would be put in their place. We catch an echo of their attitude in the remarks of the one disciple to another on the Emmaus Road in Luke’s gospel.” We had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel”. We had hoped but we were disappointed. It was a case of mistaken identity.

They were wrong! They heard the message but they mistook the meaning. They wanted peace but peace on their terms. Peace after victory over the Romans. They asked a rhetorical question. Who is this? And they came up with an incomplete answer. This is Jesus the prophet from Galilee.

Some of you may know the famous piece of newsreel footage that records the return of Mr Chamberlain from the Munich Conference at which he betrayed Czechoslovakia. He stood beside the aeroplane; he waved his piece of paper and declared that it was peace in our time. And he was the most popular man in Britain because he told everybody what they wanted to hear. He was wrong. Everyone was wrong or most people anyway. Mind you to be fair there is a case for the defence.

As Jesus says in Luke’s gospel as he surveys the city
Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace? But now they are hid from your eyes.

People felt deceived by Chamberlain a year later. When people discover that they have been deceived they become angry and call for heads to roll. The truth is though that the British people then had deceived themselves. People are always deceiving themselves because although the truth can set you free freedom can be almost unbearable.

It was the same for Jesus> he didn’t fulfil their hopes. So a few days later they turned nasty. Shouted for his death and called for the release of Barabbas who seemed to be the genuine article. The people of Jerusalem were deceived but they had deceived themselves.

It was a case of mistaken identity.

Very often we are no better than them. When we see Jesus or when we read the Bible we see in these things what we want to see. You tell me what you find in the Bible and I’ll tell you what sort of person you are. Theologians, who might be expected to know something of these matters are like people who look down the shafts of deep wells. At the bottom they see their own faces looking up.

Perhaps we ought to look at that face at the bottom of the well a little harder. Who are we? What do we really hope for? Do we have fears if so what are they? Do we have great expectations? How do we imagine that they will be fulfilled?

One way of dealing with that would be to ask you what your favourite hymn or Bible passage is. The words that really speak to your condition as you imagine it to be. Ask yourself why you like it. And then turn the question around. What would a person who likes that passage be like?

Of course we like to hear what we like to hear. But is that message the one we really need to hear. We want to hear a word of forgiveness but we don’t want to hear about judgment. We want to hear about rights but not about duties. We want peace but only peace on our terms. In our devotional lives we like the high moments-the strong sense of fulfillment-the vocation affirmed. We‘re not so keen on the downside-the boring meeting-the Church Council that went on till 10.30. We are inclined to say with Peter when confronted with the negative side. No Lord this shall never happen to you. What we really mean of course is that this must never happen to us.

It is at such moments that we need to hear Jesus’ teaching about the cost of discipleship and the cost of discipleship is the cross.

A case of mistaken identity. Oh yes!

Such cases are very common. At job interviews I’ve often been asked questions in which the questioner betrays their own wishes. Please Mr Grimwood please-reassure us that you are indeed the person we want you to be. It is very difficult to disappoint people at such moments.

Have we mistaken Jesus for someone else? Jesus we say is our saviour. How is he going to save us? Which of our hopes and expectations will he fulfill? Ask yourself: What do you hope for? What are your great expectations? Is Jesus the one who is going to make all your dreams come true-all your lucky numbers turn up? We had hoped. Well what are your hopes? Are they hopes that are compatible with faith in Christ-the suffering savior who gives his life and calls upon us to follow his way of costly love.

Today marks the beginning of Holy Week. The dominant symbol of that is the cross. This is the week when we survey the wondrous cross. A week when we try to embrace a larger vision and turn aside from those vain things, those extravagant expectations and futile longings that charm us so much. A week for turning aside from triumph and glory. A week to remember the two mysteries that lie at the heart of the faith.

God’s love for us in the broken body of his son. And the possibility that we might respond to that love with humble, contrite hearts.

So stay with the story! Walk the way of the cross through this week. Read the texts, embrace the music and find renewed faith, hope and love. Then you will discover who this prophet from Galilee really is!