Identity Unmasked
In the ’80s, there was a movie called “The Breakfast Club.” It's a movie that showed the story of 5 high schoolers who had Saturday morning detention. Now they had detention for various reasons. In this movie, all the students identified themself by a specific title. You had the brain, the princess, the criminal, the basket case, and the athlete.
When you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see? What hat or identity do you see sitting on top of your head? Do you see the nickname your parents gave you? Do you see the names or adjectives people have spoken over you throughout your life?
Mark 5 talks about the women with the issue of bleeding. “And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
God changed this women’s identity in a mere matter of minutes. She was known as the “woman with the bleeding.” However, with just one word, she was known as Daughter. Her whole life was changed when she was healed and given a new name.
God saw this person. He saw the faith that she had to be healed. This daughter of God knew that if she could touch the hem of Jesus’ garments, she would be healed. God loves that tenacious, determined faith that she had in Him.
Throughout the Bible, God changes a lot of people’s identities, especially people’s names. God changed Abram to Abraham, the father of nations, Genesis 17:4. Then you have Jacob to Israel, who became the father of the nation of Israel. Then Saul to Paul, the apostle. When God touches your heart, He changes your core. He changes who you are. God changes the trajectory of your life.
God changed your identity when Christ died on the cross for our sins. 1st Peter 2:9 states, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” God called you from darkness into His marvelous light. You are precious in His sight.
I will ask again when you look in the mirror, who do you see? Do you see the daughter or son that God calls you to be? Do you see His loving arms wrap around you and Him whispering into your ear, “I see you, and you are mine.”, just like the women with the issue of blood? No one else noticed her except Him. Your identity is found in Him and Him alone. Let His grace sweep you off your feet as you dance the night away with Him.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His love shine on the person He has called you to be.