To celebrate Winston Churchill’s 80th birthday, the British parliament asked artist Graham Sutherland to paint a portrait of this powerful statesman. Churchill allegedly asked the artist: “As a cherub, or the Bulldog?” He felt these two images would display his great dignity. Sutherland, however, said he would paint him as he truly saw him.

Churchill did not like the results of seeing himself slumped down in a chair wearing his stern scowl look on his face. He put the picture in the cellar and later he secretly destroyed it.

We all have an image of ourselves and sometimes it does not truly represent who we are. We usually view ourselves too positive or too negatively. We try to hide our true identity hoping no one will find out.

Jesus told a parable to paint the portrait of the Jewish leaders, but it was too real to life. They hated Him so much that they wanted Him dead. Luke records this: “The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them” (Luke 20:19). Three days later they arrested Him and put Him on a cross.

As Christ confronts us with our true identity may we willingly repent and not try to kill Him. Let’s come clean and enjoy Christ’s blessing.