Who is this man called Jesus? Popular author Max Lucado affirms, “The life of Jesus Christ is a message of hope, a message of mercy, a message of life in a dark world.” But how can his identity be confirmed?

In the gospel of John, not long after Jesus scattered the accusers of a woman who had been caught in an extramarital tryst, those in the crowd became more curious about the identity of the one who dismissed the law professors by simply writing a mysterious message in the sand.

A short time later, as Jesus resumed his teaching he announced, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). This again caused the Pharisees to challenge his declaration and question his true identity.

Here is the account from John 8:21-20: ²¹ Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” ²² This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” ²³ But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴ I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” ²⁵ “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. ²⁶ “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” ²⁷ They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. ²⁹ The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” ³⁰ Even as he spoke, many believed in him. (NIV)

Identity verification has come a long way since the time of Jesus. Often, one or more printed documents are required to confirm one’s identity. In the United States, acceptable identity documents include a state-issued driver’s license or identity card, a social security card, and a United States passport.

There are also more advanced ways to authenticate one’s identity including digital fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, voice recognition, and DNA comparison.

Rather than pulling out a heavenly ID card or scanning an incarnate fingerprint, Jesus identifies himself by his words and actions. John’s gospel underscores that Jesus is not of this world. He was sent on a redemptive mission by God the Father. He forgives those that others condemn. He is a light that shines in darkness. He is one whose aim is to please God. And he is one whose identity will be widely known once he is lifted or raised.

Just as some came before Jesus claiming to be the Messiah, there are many more who came afterward claiming that they were the Christ. Perhaps a greater dilemma has been the misrepresentation of Jesus by the people professing to represent the Christian faith. Too often Jesus is portrayed as the accuser, or he is depicted as a mascot for one’s preferred political party.

There are some surefire ways to identify Jesus. Jesus is the one who says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more!” (v11). Jesus is the one who brings light to the dark spaces and places in your life. Jesus is the one who, like God who sent him, doesn’t abandon you in the tough times in life.

In The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey writes, “Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he did meet skeptics he could not convince and sinners he could not convert. Forgiveness of sins requires an act of will on the receiver’s part, and some who heard Jesus’ strongest words about grace and forgiveness turned away unrepentant.”

During Lent, as we revisit the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry, let us sort through the urban myths and superstitions about Jesus and let us rediscover and reaffirm his identity as the Son of God who was sent to deliver us from our sins, and to show us the way to live a full and meaningful life.