In 2006, four students and one staff member from Taylor University were killed in a crash involving a truck. There was confusion after the crash and two young ladies, who were both blond with similar features were also both in the wreck. Witney Cerak’s parents received a call that their girl was one of the students killed in the crash. Laura van Ryn, another girl’s parents were called to say their daughter survived but was in critical condition. For five weeks the van Ryn family held a vigil praying for Laura’s recovery. As the bruises and swelling subsided on Laura, family members realized it was a mistaken identity. Whitney was the girl who survived and unfortunately for the van Ryn family, Laura passed away in the crash. A few years later, Whitney married in the same church her family held her funeral.

Looking at the New Testament, there is a case of mistaken identity too. Jesus knew people believed good, but false things about him. “He asked his disciples, who do people say the Son of Man is” (Matthew 16:13)? They listed off various prophets Jesus identifies with or could be compared to, but they miss the mark. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). However, Jesus explained to his disciples what he must do, die on the cross, because of his identity. On hearing this Peter, who gave the great proclamation moments before, had a case of mistaken identity about Jesus. Peter rebuked Jesus, which prompted Jesus to respond with “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Matthew 16:23).

Let’s get our minds on what God wants or we will not have a case of mistaken identity about Jesus.