“My I see your personal I.D.?” is a standard question when marrying, voting and flying. Asked when buying a car, a house, a passport and pharmaceutical prescriptions. Checking out a library book even requires personal I.D.
Recently I learned that my hospital birth certificate – you know, the paper with my name, birth weight, footprints and embossed gold stamp - is not sufficient proof that I am me. Renewing my driver’s license now must be accompanied by a certified original document – purchased from my birth state. Homeland security, I’m told.
Personal I.D. and family heritage have been of major importance as long as historical records have been maintained. As far back as Adam.
Those ancient individuals named before the Flood were identified by their father’s name: Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, etc. When nations began developing after the Flood an entire chapter in Genesis is devoted to genealogies. The first chapter of Matthew shocks a first time reader with wearisome 42 father-son records. A natural response, “Who cares?”
In Bible times – from Genesis to Revelation - individuals cared, families cared, national leaders cared, and most of all God cared.
God spoke to Eve and Abraham about their “offspring.” Centuries later Isaiah prophesied about a son whose name would be Immanuel who would reign on David’s throne, with Micah adding that he would be born in Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah. He would be Israel’s anointed one – the Messiah, God’s Son. In a way, identity was their Homeland Security.
John the Baptist stated, “I am not the Christ.” But when Andrew was introduced to Jesus, he boldly announced, “We have found the Messiah.” Speaking for the Twelve, Peter affirmed, “You are the Christ [the anointed Messiah], the Son of the living God.” Soon after a voice from a brilliant cloud thundered, “This is my Son.” Jesus Christ had more personal I.D. than any other notable in world history, making him – if for no other reason - THE man of all men and THE son of God.
At the last supper Jesus used two elements to represent his identify – bread and fruit of the vine, instructing his followers to eat and drink these emblems to identify with his eminent death. After his ascension into heaven, followers regularly continued with this meal to identify with Christ. Our Communion participation is part of our eternal homeland personal I.D.
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