Life is filled with fleeting figures and fading voices but the Bible declares a profound truth: it is appointed for every person to die once. Leaders of every religion have succumbed to this universal fate but one defeated death and rose again. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, walked among us, yet we sentenced Him to the cross. Death, however, could not hold Him. He is God, risen and alive, yet so often, we fail to recognise Him for who He truly is. Here are three cases of mistaken identity in Scripture, where those closest to Jesus didn’t see Him clearly. Through these stories, we learn to recognise Him in our own lives and embrace the relationship He offers.

Case of Mistaken Identity #1: A Ghost on the Waves

In Matthew 14:22-33, the disciples found themselves in a storm-tossed boat, seven kilometres out on a raging lake. Fear gripped their hearts as high winds and heavy seas battered their vessel. At about four o’clock in the morning, a figure approached, walking on the water. Terrified, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” Perhaps they thought death itself, the grim reaper, was coming for them. Lightning probably silhouetted the figure, amplifying their dread.

Then, a voice broke through the storm: “Be brave and don’t be afraid. I am here!” It was Jesus, declaring His divine presence with the words “I Am.” Peter, emboldened, called out, “Lord, if it’s really you, have me join you on the water!” Jesus invited him, and Peter stepped out, walking on the waves toward his Lord. But when his eyes shifted to the towering waves, fear overtook him, and he began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he cried. Instantly, Jesus reached out, lifted him up, and said, “What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt win?” The moment they stepped back into the boat, the wind ceased, and the disciples fell in worship, declaring, “You are truly the Son of God!”

Takeaway #1: The disciples couldn’t recognise Jesus because their eyes were fixed on the storm. Fear clouded their discernment. Yet, Jesus came to them in their hardship, proclaiming His divinity. He is God, present in our storms, ready to calm the chaos if we trust Him.

Case of Mistaken Identity #2: A Gardener at the Tomb

In John 20:11-16, Mary Magdalene stood outside Jesus’ empty tomb, her heart shattered by grief. As she wept, she peered into the tomb and saw two angels seated where Jesus’ body had been. They asked, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied, “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put Him.” Turning, she saw a man standing nearby but didn’t recognise Him. Her sorrow was so overwhelming, like Peter’s waves, that she mistook Jesus for the gardener. “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him,” she pleaded.

Then, Jesus spoke a single word: “Mary.” In that moment, her name on His lips pierced through her grief. She turned and cried out, “Rabboni!”—meaning “Teacher.” Her eyes were opened, and she saw Him for who He was.

Takeaway #2: Mary recognised Jesus when He called her by name. He knows us intimately, and His voice can break through our deepest sorrow, revealing His presence. He knows us by name and is calling us. 

Case of Mistaken Identity #3: A Stranger on the Road

In Luke 24:28-32, two disciples walked the road to Emmaus, their hopes crushed. They had believed Jesus was the Messiah, destined to rule and reign, not to die on a cross. Shattered by His crucifixion, they didn’t recognise the stranger who joined them on their journey. It was Jesus Himself, walking beside them, yet their disappointment blinded them.

As evening fell, they urged Him to stay with them. At the table, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and handed it to them. In that sacred act, their eyes were opened, and they recognised Him. Then, He vanished. They exclaimed, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Takeaway #3: When Jesus broke bread with them, they saw Him clearly. He wants to break bread with you, he desires intimacy with you, inviting you to share in His presence and truth.

Who Do You Say He Is?

Jesus is not a ghost, a gardener, or a weary traveler. He is God, the One who calms storms, calls us by name, and breaks bread with us. In Matthew 16:13-18, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, or one of the prophets.” But Jesus pressed further: “Who do you say I am?” Peter declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus affirmed him, saying, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you.” This revelation Peter was given is the foundation of our faith.

3 cases of mistaken identity show us that…

Jesus is God.

Jesus knows your name and is calling you. 

Jesus wants to break bread with you. 

He Sees You, Even When You Don’t See Him

You may not always recognise God, but He recognises you. You may not see Him, but He sees you. You may not hear Him, but He hears you. Jesus invites you into a beautiful relationship—to break bread with Him, to walk with Him through this life and into eternity. Made from the dust of the earth, you are invited to know the Creator of heaven and earth, the One who fashioned you.

Why did He die on the cross? To pay the death penalty we deserved. Why did He rise from the grave? To raise us into new life with Him. As John 3:16 proclaims, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Peter knew this love. Mary knew it. The disciples on the Emmaus road knew it. And we can know it too.

 

Embrace Your Identity in Him

When others failed to recognise Jesus’ true identity, let these moments of mistaken identity remind you to confidently embrace your own identity as a beloved child of God. He is not a fleeting figure or a fading voice—He is the risen Savior, calling your name, walking beside you, and inviting you to His table.