There is a character in one of my favorite movies who possesses a keen sense of identity. In “The Princess Bride,” Inigo Montoya is a tortured man bent on avenging the murder of his father by a six-fingered villain. Repeatedly, Inigo repeats the line he will say when he finds his father’s killer: “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
Inigo is driven toward a dangerous and costly action by his unwavering sense of identity. Who he is compels what he does.
The Jewish trial of Jesus during Passion Week raises a similar matter of identity. Who is Jesus? Who is Peter? These are the questions raised repeatedly.
At the climax of the Jewish trial, the high priest asks, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (Mk 14:61).
Peter faces similar interrogations: “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.”; “This man is one of them.”; “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” (Mk 14:67-70).
But Jesus and Peter see themselves differently. And this leads to two very different actions. Who they are compels what they do.
Jesus responds to the high priest’s question in this way: “I am.” (Mk 14:62). Perhaps he remembers a similar description given to him by his Father at the beginning of his public ministry: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mk 1:11). Jesus saw himself as the beloved Son of the Blessed One. So when the high priest asks if he still sees himself this way, Jesus says, “Yes.”
And this “Yes” leads to suffering. Almost immediately Jesus is beaten. He’s then turned over to the Romans. And he’s murdered. But Jesus could not deny who he was. Not even if it led to death.
Peter, however, could. Three times he’s asked questions about his identity as it relates to Jesus. Three times Peter says, “I am not.” Three times he denies who he truly is.
Why? Because he was afraid of the suffering. He was afraid of the consequences.
Every day I face a similar choice. Every day I’m given a blank name tag which says, “Hello, my name is____.” And I have to decide: will I fill the blank with who I truly am, or will I deny my identity? Will I have the courage to be who God calls me, even if it means suffering? Or will I fudge the truth to make my life a little easier?
How was Jesus able to retain his identity even at the cost of his life? He saw through the suffering. Peter could only see to the suffering. Jesus saw through the suffering. Peter could only see “If I embrace my true identity as it relates to Jesus, it’s going to cost me.” But Jesus could see further. He could see that even if he suffered now as a result of embracing his identity, the suffering was temporary. Jesus tells the high priest, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mk 14:62). Even here, Jesus could see the real ending of the story. Peter could only see to the suffering. Jesus could see through it.
Matthew West touches on all of this in his song, “Hello, My Name Is…”:
Hello, my name is regret
I’m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I’m the whisper inside
That won’t let you forget
Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I’ll drag you right back down again
‘Til you’ve lost all belief
These are the voices, these are the lies
And I have believed them, for the very last time
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it’s true
Just take a look at my life
What love the Father has lavished upon us
That we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King
Who are you? This may be the most important question asked and answered in the Passion Week.
