⏱ 7 min read

• WARNING!!!! THIS IS NOT A MAKEUP CLASS but this promises to be transformational.
• The word ‘MASKARA’ is a Greek word that translates to mask or masquerade in English.
• To serve today’s purpose, the word masquerade shall be defined figuratively.

• A story is told of a man named Frank Abagnale Jr. who was a master impersonator. It is said he assumed multiple personalities and identities in 1963.
• It is amazing how that one man could pose as a pilot, a doctor, a lawyer, and even an FBI agent until his arrest in 1969.
• His exploits were adapted into the famous movie ‘Catch Me If You Can’ in 2002.

• In Luke Chapter 7, we see an interesting story of Jesus’ identity being questioned by His cousin, John the Baptist.
• You would think that the connection that Elizabeth and Mary had – when they first met at the time of their pregnancy – should be an answer to John the Baptist. After all, he was the baby that lept!

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost”. – Luke 1:41

• Why was John the Baptist questioning Jesus’ identity now?
• Again, you would think that His question should have been answered on the day of Jesus’ baptism.
• It is not every day that a dove descends from heaven and a voice thunders saying ‘This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased’.

God had publicly approved of Jesus in the presence of John the Baptist. Why did John still need such a question answered? Was he doubting God?

So in Luke 7:18-19, we see John ask Jesus, the one whom he acknowledged as Lord, a strange question.

 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

John’s Question:

• From John’s question, we are informed that the people of Israel had an expectation of someone who was to come, according to the prophecies foretold.
• This means there must have been a foretelling of someone who was to come. A prophecy Jesus Himself quoted in Luke 4:18.

Jesus’ Response:

The typical response to such a question could have been a simple yes or no! But Jesus didn’t do that. Quite usual for Jesus to be unusual. So what did Jesus do?

At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. – Luke 7:21

• Jesus answered John’s question by meeting the expectations of the people that had been birthed in their hearts by the prophecies once told!
• In Luke 4:18, we see that Jesus quoted the prophecy of Isaiah, which we could say was the job description of THE ONE WHO WAS TO COME.
• Jesus answered the question by doing exactly what the prophecies said He would do!

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

• He preached the gospel of the kingdom of God to the poor in spirit, He gave men who had been made captives to disease liberty…
• He gave sight to the blind and He released them that were oppressed by demons!
• Jesus proved by His works that He was no impersonator. HE WAS HIM. The one who was to come was in their midst, was here!

This is not just a story of John questioning the identity of Jesus. John knew too well that HE WAS HIM. This seems to be a well-crafted scene in the written script of salvation.

• Prophet John (who was the well-revered prophet before Jesus came), asked for these signs to be shown on the leverage of the prophecies which had been given.
• Why? So that the people may see and believe that the ONE they so eagerly expected was amongst them!
• Now whether he meant to or not, John was actually revealing Jesus to Israel.

Therefore by their fruits you will know them (NKJV).
Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions (NLT). – Matthew 7:20

Our Quota:

Many are they that bear the name of Christ, but ARE YOU HIM / HER? ARE YOU REALLY A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST? Or are we the ones who have mastered the art of masquerading?

• As men who bear the name of Christ, everything in the world today seeks to question our identity (from the classroom; to the marketplace; to our homes, and even to the buildings we call the church!)
• The right response is not to keep responding by saying ‘Oh yes I am a Christian’. Dearly beloved, it is not about what we claim, but what we do and don’t do.

The right response is to BE THE CHURCH. Live out the Christian life for all to see. The right response is to do the things that God is expecting of us, which have been spelled out (prophesied) in the scriptures.

We ought to be transformed in ourselves by the miracle of our salvation and we have to go out into the world and do the good works expected of us.

• As children of God, our expectation is that we will one day see Jesus and that when we see Him we will be like Him (1 John 3:2).
• Until then we ought to do greater works (John 14:12). It is by these works that we shall be known as true followers of Christ.

And so whether or not you decide to put on mascara, be determined to live out your true identity in Christ! No masquerading is allowed.

Do share your wisdom lessons from Luke 7. Remember to tag us on 📲:
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