Recognize Jesus

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down." 2 Corinthians 13:5-10

Today, let's examine the next sentence of these verses:  "Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?"  Why would Paul ask this question?  The commentary noted for this passage at www.biblegateway.com says that Paul was being sarcastic.  (My kind of guy!)  The NIV translation uses the verb "realize," although a better translation might be "recognize."  In other words, Paul is asking, "Don't you even recognize Jesus among you?"  He's pointing out that if you can't see Jesus in your life, in your ministry, in your church - there's a huge problem!

How do we recognize Jesus?  How do others see Him in us?  Is it in the way that we are impatient with the cashier in the Walmart checkout line?  Do our children see it when we snap at them in frustration?  Perhaps the more frightening question is this:  Can Jesus Christ recognize Himself in us? 

Don't you think that Jesus, when He looks at us, desires it to be almost like looking in a mirror?  Doesn't He have the right, as the one who died for our sins, to examine our lives?  I want Him to see evidence of His work in my life when He looks at me!  And not old work, written in the history book of my life.  But current, new work, like new skin growing over old wounds.   

To be able to recognize Christ in ourselves and our work and our church takes a bit (well, not a bit - a lot!)of effort, discipline, and thought.  We don't accidentally become Christ-like.  It's a purposeful, life-long endeavor that is a result of knowing Him more and more fully.  Paul says in Philippians 3:10 that he wants "to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings."  Becoming Christ-like isn't just about sharing in the power of His resurrection.  It's about sharing in His sufferings, too.  That's the part that we might not like so much.  But think about it - is life defined by the suffering, or by the joy? 

Resolve to recognize Him in your midst.  Allow others to recognize Him in you.  It takes a decision - to make an effort, to allow love to reign, to be defined by joy instead of sorry.  But it's worth the effort.  When I get to heaven one day, after the first thousand years or so of sitting at Christ's feet and soaking in His presence, I might look around and be amazed. 

Maybe, just maybe, I'll recognize the Walmart cashier from that long checkout line.