"Who am I?" - a question of identity

The media are full of information and speculation about what has happened in the life of Mohammad Emwazi to transform him from a student in West London to a notorious killer in IS. 

While many of us have been through crises of identity, as teenagers or later, we are intrigued how this young man has turned out the way he has. The same questions arise whenever there is a terrible mass killing somewhere in the world.

The Bible tells many stories of people who struggle to know their own identity. 

In several stories, names are changed, as people grow into their new God-transformed identity. So Abram becomes Abraham and Jacob become Israel, Simon become Peter and Saul become Paul.

During Lent, we recall that Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness, and Luke & Matthew tell of the challenges he faced from the devil.'During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4.3-4)

The key challenge that comes from the devil are the words,  “If you are the Son of God.' This is a direct attack on Jesus' identity.
As we know, this time in the wilderness came immediately after Jesus had been baptised by his cousin, John, in the Jordan river.

' After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” (Matthew 3.16-17)

At the very start of his public ministry, Jesus is reminded most powerfully that he is dearly loved by his heavenly Father, and that he is equipped to live out his calling by the Spirit's presence. Secure in that identity, he was able to face all the challenges that the devil could throw at him. Eventually, his calling would take him to Gethsemane and Calvary, where he willingly laid down his life. But he was secure in his identity, and therefore able to trust his Father's call on his life.

All of Jesus' followers can know the same security that Jesus enjoyed, if we will focus on these facts - 'God loves me and God is with me!' This sets us free to lay down our lives, for the sake of others.

Then, unlike Mohammad Emwazi, who seems to be trying to find himself in his killing of others, we will be able to bring life to those around us, after the pattern of Jesus. What a privilege!

Best wishes,

Richard