Who Am I?

“Who Am I?”

Luke 9:28-43

Jenny Caughman wrote a mid-week devotion for this past Wednesday that got me thinking.

If you missed it, you might want to go back and have a look.

If you don’t get the mid-week devotions sent to you by the church and you would like to, please add your email address in the pew pad and perhaps a little note that reads: “Please add me to the email list.”

In any event, in her devotion Jenny focused on the question: “Who Are You?” as it relates to the question we are most often asked when we meet someone at a social event: “What do you do?”

Which is how many of us, perhaps, define who we are.

But is what we do really who we are?

It’s true that much of our identity, both our self-concept—who we think we are—and our self-worth is often tied up in what we “do.”

But this can be problematic on so many levels.

What if, for example, what we do is not what we want to be doing?

Or what if what we do is demeaning in some way, but we have to do it in order to put food on the table?

Or perhaps, either due to a disability, accident or simply the natural aging process we cannot do what we or society deems as useful?

What happens to our identity then?

In her devotion, Jenny shared a story about, what she refers to as “one of the most profound discussions” she’s ever had which was with a person who, as they aged, had lost the ability to do all the things through which they had defined themselves.

Grieving yet another a new loss the person asked Jenny, “Who am I?”

Jenny asked back, “Who are you?”

Jenny shares that this was followed by a very long period of silence, during which she became more and more anxious, wishing she had not asked that question…

Driving to work that morning, in silence, I got thinking about that question as it pertains to my life.

What would my answer be to the question of “Who are you” or “Who am I?”

(pause)

It’s an interesting, yet profound and important question to ask ourselves.

How would you answer this question?

How do you define yourself?

(pause)

This is Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday, and all three of our Scripture readings, in distinct ways, contribute to what this means.

But it’s mainly about the Gospel Lesson.

Jesus leads His inner, inner circle of disciples: Peter, James and John on a hike up a really high mountain.

And then, as Jesus is praying there is this other-worldly—sci-fi kind of thing that happens.

And the emphasis throughout all this is Jesus’ identity—Who He Is.

On that mountain, Jesus’ face somehow changes, and His clothes become as bright as a flash of lightening.

This is reminiscent of Moses’ face becoming radiant upon experiencing the presence of God in our Old Testament Lesson from Exodus.

But the change in Jesus’ entire appearance distinguishes Him from Moses.

Jesus’ transformed appearance is not merely because He is experiencing God’s glory like Moses did but rather because He is the Very Source of God’s glory.

Then, the appearance of Moses and Elijah add to the validation of Jesus’ identity.

Moses and Elijah embody “the Law and the Prophets” which all point to Christ Jesus as the Messiah.

Then the most direct testimony about Jesus’ identity comes from the Voice of God saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

This is similar to God’s message at Jesus’ baptism: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

The difference is that the message at Jesus’ baptism was spoken directly to Jesus, but on the Mount of Transfiguration the message is spoken directly to the disciples.

“This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

Not only were Peter, James and John Jesus’ disciples.

Not only were all the other earliest followers of Jesus His disciples.

Everyone here this morning, who have made the decision to dedicate their lives to Christ are also Jesus’ disciples.

A disciple is a learner.

A disciple seeks to walk in the footsteps of the Rabbi or Teacher, or in our case Jesus.

A disciple seeks to BE LIKE the Rabbi, Teacher, or in our case Jesus.

And so, we are to “Listen to Jesus,” in order to live into this.

How are we doing at listening to Jesus?

Do we understand what Jesus is about, or at least understand a bit of what He teaches and embodies?

Or do we hear but not comprehend?

Do we give our assent to Jesus’ Words but not internalize them—not put them into action?

Of course we do.