Dear Family and Friends,

A true story from my younger days.

It was still early that one morning as I drove up Harding Avenue. ‘Looks like a nice day, maybe I’ll head to the beach,’ so I thought…

When out of nowhere, a police car came racing up behind me. Thinking he wanted to pass, I started to slow down. But instead of going around, he pulled alongside me (in the wrong lane) and forced me to turn into the dead end section of 8th Avenue.

Within seconds, my car was surrounded by a dozen police cars, and an equal number of guns were pointed in my direction.

One officer, the one who almost ran me off the road, started yelling, ‘Get out of the car! Keep your hands where I can see them!’

It was a scene right out of a movie. But to me, this was no movie. All I could think of was – – I need a toilet.

After frisking me, checking my license and registration and asking a whole lot of questions, they let me go. A driver in a similar car had shot at a police officer the night before.

Mine was a case of mistaken identity.

Which is what we will spend our time on today. Why? Because there is a lot of this going on.

We begin with the greatest victim of mistaken identity ever: Jesus.

At His trial before Pilate, the mistaken identity of Jesus came to a frightening head.

“The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” John 19:7 NIV

These Jewish leaders were not the only ones who mistook the identity of Jesus. Even some who were with Jesus when He ascended to Heaven had doubts.

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”  Matthew 28:16-17 NIV

Unfortunately, the mistaken identity of Jesus that started some two thousand years ago continues til today, leading to a proliferation of unbelief.

Rather than spending our time commiserating about the downward trend of Christianity in America, perhaps we should consider this:

The downward spiral that we’re in today will continue tomorrow and into the days ahead unless we Christ followers start doing something.

I know this sounds pretty daunting. But look at what Jesus said right after the passage above which ends with – but some doubted.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

Jesus knew some still doubted His identity. But they did not stop Him from giving His disciples the Great Commission. Nor did the doubters stop the disciples from sharing the Gospel.

So like the disciples, let’s be followers who will not allow doubters to stop us from doing what we are called to do.

So where can we start?

This is a question that has perplexed many of us. At the expense of sounding repetitive, a good place to start is by not mistaking the identity of others.

What does this mean?

Do you remember how the police realized I was not who they first thought I was once they got to know me?

Our message for today is simply this: let’s start there. Let’s strive to get to know those who Jesus brings into our lives.

Why?

Because those who seem to have it all together may actually be broken inside.

Those who seem happy all the time may actually be silently crying for help inside.

Those who have the admiration and respect of others may actually be exhausted and ready to give up inside.

Those who say they don’t need Jesus may actually not understand how much they really need Him.

We all intuitively know that those who don’t have Jesus in their hearts have a big hole instead.

We’ve been there. And we know that this hole can only be filled by Jesus. 

Filling those holes begins with investing in others. 

My friends, one of the best ways to love others as ourselves is by sharing the Gospel. 

And sharing the Gospel begins with sharing ourselves.

In love always,