Who Are You?: A Mother's Day Message

Who Are You? (John 10:22-30)

Any fans of the television show CSI?  The theme song for CSI, Who Are You, happens to be a song by The Who, written by Pete Townshend, the genius spokesman for rock and roll. To quote my favorite movie, Almost Famous, “No one can really explain rock ‘n’ roll, except for Pete Townshend!” Like many of his peers in the 1960s, Townshend abandoned his Christian roots and followed the teachings of an Indian guru by the name of Meher Baba. His disciples think of him as the avatar, the earthly manifestation of God. Pete Townshend went on a spiritual retreat at the Meher Spiritual Center near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. While walking about the ocean side retreat, he had a significant spiritual experience. Townshend reflects on this experience of God in his song Who Are You.

I know there's a place you walked

Where love falls from the trees

My heart is like a broken cup

I only feel right on my knees

I spit out like a sewer hole

Yet still receive your kiss

How can I measure up to anyone now

After such a love as this?

Well, who are you?

Who are you? It’s a question Townshend asks about himself, when he muses over a busy day of bar hopping in the Soho district of London. It’s a question he asks of his god. And it’s the same question of the religious leadership of Jerusalem.

(John 8:23-25)  

Jesus said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.  I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Why do I speak to you at all?

You can sense Jesus’ frustration with them, but to be frank I’m sympathetic to the Pharisees and temple priests. Jesus speaks in riddles. He’s not speaking plainly. If I heard someone talking like Jesus today, I’d have some real reservations. I’d have some questions.

Rather than plainly tell them that He is the messiah, Jesus goes much further. He tells them that if they were truly children of Abraham they would rejoice in his arrival as Abraham did. They think Jesus is crazy.

(John 8:57-58)

Then the Judeans said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.

They picked up stones to kill Jesus, because basically was he saying, “I am God.” “I existed before Abraham. I exist now and forever.” 

Do you ever wonder who God is? Do you wonder who Jesus is? John’s gospel presents Jesus as the mysterious Son of God, sent down from heaven. God the Father and Jesus are one. If you see Jesus, you have seen God. If you know Jesus, you know God.

The confrontation in John 10 took place during the Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the temple after its desecration by the Greek king Antiochus IV. He built pagan shrines in the temple. He ordered sacrifices to Greek gods to be conducted upon the temple altar. In 166 BC, Judas Maccabees led a revolt against the Greeks and drove them out of Israel. They cleansed the temple and consecrated the altar. In the temple there stood a seven pronged lampstand known as the menorah. When proper worship was restored at the temple, a celebration was held for 8 days. Unfortunately there was only enough oil on hand to keep the menorah burning for one day. Miraculously the flames on the menorah burned all 8 days of the festival.

When Jesus was preaching, the religious leadership challenged Jesus. “If you are the messiah, tell us plainly.”  There’s a bit of irony here. Hanukah celebrates the light of God, who illumines the hearts of all who seek wisdom. God is standing right in front of them in the person of Jesus, but the lights of the menorah does not help them to see Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” They refuse to accept that Jesus is anything other than a fake. They cannot embrace Him as their divinely anointed king. They remain blind to the truth.

They asked Jesus, “If you are the messiah, tell us plainly!” And Jesus said, “I have told you and you refuse to believe. I have told you in what I do.”

Jesus tuned the water into wine. He restored the sight of a man born blind. He healed a paralyzed man who had not been able to walk for 38 years. They were well aware, but rather than admit that Jesus is the Christ, they continued disbelieving. “It must be a trick of the devil” they thought. He’s a lunatic and demon-possessed.”

Jesus refers to the miracles of his ministry as proof enough that He is the Christ. They do not believe because they do not belong to His flock.

Jesus said, I am the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.

He knows every one of His sheep by name. His sheep recognize His voice and trust Him. They go wherever He leads them. For they know that the good shepherd leads them to eternal life. He gives them living water to drink, the Holy Spirit.

When the eyes are your heart are illumined you will be able to see who Jesus is. When you see Jesus, you see God. And when your eyes are open to God, you see yourself in a new way. You are His. You belong to His flock. You know His voice. His voice inspires confidence and obedience. You follow Him wherever He may lead, for you know you can trust the voice of Jesus to lead you to life.

Mothers, your children will one day question, “Who are you, Lord?” What will you tell them? How will you guide these little lambs? There can be no greater ministry for a parent than to tenderly instruct a child to hear the voice of Christ.

But how can you teach them if you yourself do not know? Young adults have left the church for the most part. Many who were active in high school youth ministry are no longer active. Only 9% of Americans aged 18-29 are active in a church. There are many reasons why. One reason is that the church has failed to lead them to a faith that helps them meet the challenges of adulthood in today’s world.  It takes more than one hour on a Sunday morning to form people in a vibrant faith in Christ. The key place where faith formation occurs is in the home. Mothers have a God-given role to nurture children in love, compassion, tenderness and hope. Your children may adopt your habits and attitudes. Give them an example of a godly woman who loves the Lord with all her heart, soul, mind and strength.

My mother taught me to pray. She shared her joy in the scriptures by telling us Bible stories. She interpreted life for us through the lens of faith. I remember in 8^th grade I was troubled by a bully. I was very upset about it one day. She listened to my frustrations and fears and then told me about what Jesus had to say about bullies. Love them. Pray for them. She opened the Bible to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel and read the words to me.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

She led me in prayer at the side of my bed. I wept tears of release as I learned to submit to the voice of the Good Shepherd. In the following days, I noticed the bully move on to other things. In my next encounter he was kind to me. I witnessed prayer work in my life in a very real way. I owe my mother thanks for that. You can do the same for your children.

I encourage you to join bible studies and Christian small groups wherever you can. Schedule regular meetings with people who know the Lord. When you seek God with your whole heart, you will find God. Seeking God means a personal relationship with Jesus. Make your relationship with Jesus the priority in your life and your children will praise you for it!

“Who are you, Lord?” goes the question. Jesus says, “I am your Good Shepherd who leads you beside still waters, who comforts your soul, who leads you in the paths of righteousness, and who walks with you through the darkest valleys, leading you to a place of plenty and peace.

Who are you? That’s the question. And when you answer it you will know yourself as God’s own. And there is nothing in this world, not in heaven or hell, not angels or demons, not height or depth or anything in all creation that can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ.

Who are you? You are His!