Pastor s Column: A case of mistaken Identity
By BRUCE PORTER
Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church
I grew up in a baseball family. My grandpa was a professional baseball player, so it was natural for my brother and me to aspire to this great pastime. I have to admit that my brother was the one who got the baseball genes. He was great. As far as I can remember, he always made the All Star team, and he always batted in the fourth position, the coveted "cleanup" spot. Man, he could hit the ball!
I, on the other hand, just wasn't that great of a hitter. My great hope when I occasionally got to bat was to scrunch my tiny frame down even smaller so I could hopefully draw a walk and then steal a few bases, which was the one thing I seemed to be fairly good at. Needless to say, when I stepped to the plate, the outfield usually moved in — way in.
I do remember actually getting a hit one time. Maybe it was the only hit I got in little league that year. I don't really remember. But what I do remember was why I got the hit.
Yes, I got the hit because I hit the ball into left field just barely over the third baseman's head. But the real reason I got the hit was because the announcer mistakenly announced my brother's name instead of mine when I stepped up to the plate.
You would have figured the guys in the outfield would have noticed the difference. My brother was only about a foot taller then me. But I guess just hearing my brother's name struck such fear into them that they just turned and ran to the fences.
By the time they figured out the truth, I had swung at the first pitch and looped a little single to where the left fielder would normally have been playing and caught an easy fly ball for the out.
I don't think I've ever adequately thanked my big brother for that moment of glory his reputation afforded for me to succeed. For a brief moment, the other team thought I was my big brother, with all of his ability and strength. I was mistaken to be him and to be able to do what he could do.
Jesus told his followers something pretty amazing in John 14:12: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." Wow! Do you hear what Jesus is saying?
As followers of Jesus, we are promised not that we will be mistaken for Jesus, but that we will actually be able to do great things like Jesus did. I know this verse has raised quite a few questions among skeptics. Not too many followers of Jesus regularly walk on water. But, doing those kinds of flashy miracles is not the real point of this verse.
The next verse really explains it. Jesus goes on to say in John 14:13, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." Notice that what Jesus is really saying is that He will continue doing His work through His followers. Consequently, we aren't the ones who receive the glory — God is.
Just like I couldn't have gotten a hit on my own without my brother's reputation, followers of Jesus really can't do the great things Jesus did without Jesus really being the one who is doing His work through them. Some wish these verses would mean that they could walk on water.
But most followers of Jesus get the real meaning, which is, Jesus will enable us to keep doing what He came to earth to do: to show and tell people that God loves them.
Just like the real credit for my single belonged to my brother, the real credit for the good deeds we do all goes to Jesus. I may never perform a big miracle. But when I am loving and kind to people or help someone in the name of Christ, isn't it great that God gets the credit. After all — He deserves it!
Parenting classes form in McPherson
Parenting classes will begin Feb. 15 at McPherson Family Life Center, 224 S. Maple, McPherson.
For more information, contact Andy Lowe at (620) 241-6603, (800) 536-6613, or e-mail andy@macfamilylife.org.
