Identify

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Some days you just get overwhelmed. Today I mean it in a good way. I was reading something and was overwhelmed by the goodness of God.

To identify is defined as to recognize someone or something and say or prove who or what that person or thing is. It can also mean to feel and say that you belong to a particular group of people.

Well that’s where the overwhelming part comes in. In John White’s book, Magnificent Obsession, he talks about how the public ministry of Jesus began with his baptism by John. He asks the question why did Jesus, who was without sin, ask John to baptize him?

Baptism is an act for a Christian to openly align ourself with Jesus. “It is an outward confession of your inward commitment to Him.”

Jesus being baptized, “marked His willingness to identify himself with sinful humanity.”

“He identified with us in the dilemma of our sin, taking his place alongside us as wanting to share the responsibility for us. He placed himself where we were. He became our champion by standing in line with us.”

In all four Gospels, up to this point, Jesus was referred to as the “Son of God.” After his baptism, he now also refers to himself as the “Son of Man.”

“To take our place and die as our representative and substitute, he must be both. Only as the Son of man could he represent us. Only as the Son of God could he redeem us.”

I can overwhelmingly identify with that, and am incredibly grateful. Makes me appreciate Christmas even more.

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Published by God Still Speaks

I am a follower of Jesus with an insatiable hunger for the Word of God! I am doing my best to be obedient in sharing what I learn with others, with my own unique spin, using the way God made me, linear with a twist!

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18 thoughts on “Identify”

  3. Isn’t it amazing that the Son of God should identify with us, and with His Redeeming work to save us by being called “the Son of Man.” It is even more remarkable when you know this title was coined 600 years earlier by Daniel in his prophecy:
    “I kept looking in the night visions,
    And behold, with the clouds of heaven
    One like a Son of Man was coming,
    And He came up to the Ancient of Days
    And was presented before Him.
    — Daniel 7:13

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  5. Wow! What an eye opener! I never thought of the rationale between the follow scriptures:
    “In all four Gospels, up to this point, Jesus was referred to as the “Son of God.” After his baptism, he now also refers to himself as the “Son of Man.”

    What an eye opener for me. Thanks a lot for enlightening me. I shall go back and review the rationale of these verses. Thanks again.

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  7. In our tradition, after a person is baptized, they are anointed with oil (Chrism), and the priest–marking a cross on the person’s forehead with the oil–says, “You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever. Amen.” That is an indelible “mark” / identifying that can never be taken from you.

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