Beyond Normal Recognition
Do we really know who we are? How do we “see” others? How is that the despite spending so much time with Jesus, the disciples failed to recognise Him after the resurrection? These are some of the questions that I want to address in this post.
Firstly, I guess it’s obvious what we consider important as to how we are recognised. There is a multi-million pound fashion industry. The big thing where I live is that it is almost essential that guys go to a Turkish barber. We want to be identified by the cars we drive, the amazing social media posts and on and on it goes.
I’m in my mid sixties now and when I look in the mirror, my reflection doesn’t match with how I feel inside. I now know all to painfully well what I used to be told that we never seem to grow old in our own minds. This verse becomes more relevant to me every day: “”Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day”.
From a Christian standpoint, we must realise that we are not just lumps of flesh and bones. We have a spirit, soul (mind will & emotions) and a body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
When we die, our spirit and soul will live on and we will get a resurrection body that will be different from our earthly body (1 Corinthians 15:35-44). When we are “born again” it’s clear to see that the “old has gone and the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17) relates to the spirit part of us. Hopefully, our minds and emotions are being renewed and sanctified. Our bodies, well they may improve as we change our lifestyle but they are not directly effected on conversion. I must add here that what we do with our physical bodies is still highly important and relevant as we should offer them as living sacrifices wholly and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1).
Instead of concentrating on superficial outward appearances, we are constantly exhorted to look at and develop positive inward characteristics that will change how we act. Our faith will then ultimately be recognised by others ie. the fruit of the Spirit for example: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. The bible states that by our fruits we will be recognised (Matthew 7:15-20).
Although these verses in 1 Peter 3:3-4 are targeted towards women, men, could equally regard this as a good thing to aim towards: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
There are so many great verses that encourage us to develop our inward, character qualities rather than striving to change our outward appearance.
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
2 Peter 1:5-7 (NKJV)
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.”
I have heard some people say that it would have been totally awesome to have lived during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. However, I think we are in a better position than the disciples were to know the ‘real’ Jesus. You see the fact that He just looked like a pretty average guy (see Isaiah 53) was plainly a very real barrier for them to see who He really was, God in the flesh!
It is quite perplexing to know why His disciples had trouble recognising Him after His resurrection.
Mary Magdalene at the Tomb (John 20:14–15): Mistook Jesus for a gardener because her vision was blurred with tears and she expected Him to be dead.
The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–16): Two disciples walked and talked with Jesus for miles, but “their eyes were kept from recognizing him” until He broke bread.
The Sea of Galilee (John 21:4): The disciples saw Jesus standing on the shore at dawn, but “did not realize that it was Jesus” until a miraculous catch of fish occurred.
Apart from the obvious reference to one instance where “their eyes were kept from recognizing him”, personally, I feel that they were still, relying on just physical appearance, until they perceived the real Jesus. His outward appearance may have changed but His identity went way beyond the mere physical.
So, how do people recognise us? One complete mystery to me is how we will still know each other when we are in our resurrected bodies in heaven. This thought is just far too great for me. However, I can understand the simple statement that “by our fruits, people know us”. So, especially as outward appearances are so fragile and subject to age, I know I can work on being recognised as being a Christian and that if that was one label by which people instantly recognise me, that would be brilliant!
