Would you recognize Christ?

If Christ were on the earth today, let’s say in your church or somewhere out on the street, would you recognize Him? Would it help if He were wearing a tunic and worn sandals? How about a suit, a white shirt, and a nice tie? Wait … maybe it would be easier to recognize Him if He donned on the casual look: A nice pair of Levi’s and a pale blue, long-sleeved oxford shirt?

Okay, so looking for particular clothing style may not be the best way to recognize Christ in your midst. So let’s go to character. What if you heard news of a man who healed? News of a wise man who performed great miracles of love? Of a man who removed devils and pointed his works to God?

The people in Christ’s time saw of all of this and more. They saw a man who dressed like them. They saw a man who gave reverence to God. A man who guided, healed, and loved in God’s name. “And large crowds followed him” (Matthew 8:1). The poor, the sick, and the downtrodden followed Christ and praised Him. Christ’s fame as a healer was solidified when a Roman centurion begged Him to heal his servant who was ill with palsy. “And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:7-10). To proclaim that a Gentile’s faith was greater than the faith of his fellow brethren in Israel … well, this just added to Christ’s death sentence.

So who were the evil ones who did not recognize their Messiah? The same people who would crucify Christ again today: “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against Christ… both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together” (Acts 4:26-27). Kings, rulers, people not of the church, people of the church. Has anyone one of us been left out?

Everyone is looking for a savior … someone bigger than God Himself to heal the world from all its problems and sufferings. A God who will fight your inner battles for you … the constant inner battles of envy and competition and anger towards those who think and act differently than you. The battle is inside your own hearts and minds, just like with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees … just like with the Roman soldiers of the Crucifixion … soldiers from Germany, Gaul, and Britain … just like with the large crowds who followed Christ in his ministry and then turned on him with the haunting words “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

Would you be able to recognize Christ today, even as he places His hand on you, calling you by name?

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).