1 . The Way of the New Self
“Who am I ?I am the one loved by Christ. This is the foundation of the true self.”
Thomas Merton
READ
Luke 3:21-4:29
Luke chapter three verse twenty one through to chapter four verse twenty nine
CONSIDER
There’s a lot in this passage to reflecton. Think about Jesus’ honour and identity. Who is Jesus honoured and dishonoured by ?
Who’s voice (s) attempt to mould Jesus’ identity
LIVE
How does the way that Jesus navigates the honour, dishonour and identity demonstrate how followers of his are meant to live ?
The Way of The New Self
Immediately after being publicly honoured by God and being named ‘son’ by the Father we’re given a list of names that details Jesus’ genetic heredity. Is he just the sum of that list of names after all? The Greek word for nation is the word ‘ethnos’ from which we get our word ‘ethnicity’ and the placing of this list of names immediately after the baptism of Jesus was surely intentional. Jesus, a Jew, a descendent of David, ethnically and biologically connected to a particular people has just heard the Father claim him as his own. We’re left wondering if there isn’t also more to Jesus than just simply the sum of his past.
Next comes the all-out assault of the enemy. Can God really be trusted to bring definition to our lives? will trusting the Father lead to the kind of honour Jesus deserves and desires? Having gone without food for some time Jesus is tired, weak and hungry and the Enemy’s offers are offers to satisfy his legitimate cravings for food, honour and security.
Understood like this we can consider the following: should we trust our desires, appetites and instincts to define reality, and teach us how to live, or is there something greater?
Jesus’ public identity has been changed by this verbal announcement from the Father. The crowds and those listening on, now know who he is, and who he has always been since eternity past.
Jesus now responds with scripture to the temptations of the Enemy. He claims the identity his Father has spoken over him.
Jesus left the wilderness in the power of the Holy Spirit and he received the praise (honour) of all the people. The Spirit is the Spirit of Adoption. He comes to confirm our status as loved and accepted sons and daughters of God.