Saturday, April 05, 2008

Secret Identity

This evening will begin the first Jewish month of the year Nisan and the beginning of the Passover season. I just wanted to make a brief declaration to you as we officially begin this time.

It begins with a man named Mordecai, the adoptive father of Esther. The spirit behind Haman’s decree of death was already at work. Mordecai, a Jew, had previously been concealing his identity, but something shifted. He seemed to move out of identity crisis, and he began to stand against the evil man Haman by not bowing down. Ultimately, the stage is set for Haman’s demise, but it is the words of Haman’s own wife I would like to highlight.

...Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, 13 and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared. (Es 6:12-14 NIV)

You see it was Mordecai coming to a realization of who he really was that set events in motion. Now take a look at another case of questioned identity.

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Mt 16:13-18 NIV)

Our identity comes from the revelation of who He is and who He says we are. Beloved I ask you, are you the children of the Living God? If that’s really who you are, if that’s your true identity, then I declare that no decree of death or even the gates of Hell itself will be able to stand against you.

Tags: Esther, Haman, Identity, Jesus, Mordecai, Peter