Who Are You?

Who are you? When you look in the mirror, who/what do you see?
I’m reminded of the Caterpillar in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. “Who are you?” said the Caterpillar. Alice replied, rather shyly, “I – I hardly know, sir, just at the present …”
Identity has become fluid in our culture. At least, there is certainly an all-out effort to make it so. The traditional demographic markers of identity – name, sex, life cycle, family situation, locus/citizenship – are, it seems, all up for grabs.
For many (men in particular, it seems), identity has much (everything?) to do with what you do. Or have done. Your career, your job, your trade skills.
The reality is that when we think about someone, and who they are, we think a lot about their character. Their reliable habits, their apparent motivations and their preferences.
In 1 Peter 1:1-3, Peter identifies himself based on his relationship with Jesus Christ. In fact, his very name is actually the nickname given to him by Jesus … Simon (or Simeon) bar Jonah, came to be know as Simon Peter, or just, Peter. And his entire life after he became an apostle was connected in some way with Jesus. We see this in the Gospels, and in the first 15 chapters of the book of Acts.
Those who are familiar with Peter’s story, will tell you that he was a complex, passionate, impulsive follower Christ … known for both is denials of Christ and his declarations about Christ’s identity as the Son of God.
Peter understood the notion of “election,” that is, chosen by God. He was called … that is, chosen by Christ … to be a disciple (John 1:37), and eventually an evangelist (Matt 4:18-19), and the first among the apostles (Matt 10:1-2). Even his declaration of Christ’s identity at Matt 16:13-20 was the result of God’s revelation to Peter.
Our identity – who we are, especially in terms of character – become clearer in times of adversity. Are we primarily abiding in homes (shelter in place, or otherwise abiding in houses and apartments), or do we abide in Christ?
This lesson explores these questions. Who are you?