Jesus… the ULTIMATE Influencer

We have moved into the Advent season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus and His return to earth at the end of time. The Hebrews of the Bible waited centuries for the arrival of the Messiah. They believed that He would vindicate them as the King of their earthly nation and lead them to a place of prominence — and dominance. Jesus’ arrival and His presence on earth were quite different from what the people of that time expected and they had a hard time receiving Him. God the Father sent Him to earth with a clear purpose: to save the world from sin and to be the fulfillment of Biblical law and prophecy that preceded His arrival. Despite His not meeting up to the “expectations” of the time, I consider Jesus to be the ultimate influencer. He indeed arrived with all power, fully God AND fully man, but not for the purpose that His bloodline expected. Jesus the Influencer came to shake up the world. His earthly life was the example for those of us that choose to follow Him.

What is An Influencer?

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, an influencer is “one who exerts influence: a person who inspires or guides the actions of others; or a person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product) by posting about it on social media.” The Sprout Social website defines an influencer as an “individual with a large or highly engaged social media following who holds considerable sway in specific industries such as beauty, fashion, fitness, travel, and food. Known for their authenticity and innovative approaches, they use their specialized knowledge and authority to influence target audiences.” Influencers shape trends, opinions, thought processes, the way people spend their
money and so much more.

Influencers only qualify to carry the title if there are people who consider them trustworthy and believable, enough that they are willing to pick up whatever they are putting down, if you know what I mean. Influencers use their voices and their platforms to share information and thoughts that shape language, culture, and the thoughts and opinions of others. I consider Jesus to be the ULTIMATE influencer. He lived for a brief 33 years more than 2000 years ago but His life still serves as the blueprint for humanity, for those that choose to follow Him. The purpose of His life — everything that He did, His words and what He represents was meant to be the greatest example to us of how to love, how to conduct ourselves, and how to treat others. He lived to influence our way of living.

Jesus

The Bible clearly reflects how Jesus lived when He existed in physical form. His words and actions tell us what He believed about caring for others, our purpose on the earth, being in relationship with God and so much more. Jesus used His influence to provide hands-on training to a group of hand-picked men that He selected to continue His influence when His physical existence came to an end. As CHRIST-ians, followers of Christ – those who claim Him as Lord and Savior, I want to examine (make the case for?) how much influence Christ truly has over the values with which we align ourselves.

There are a number of descriptors for Jesus throughout Scripture: a Lamb, a docile animal whose nature contradicts that of another name: a Lion. A lion is a commanding presence that postures the male species as the king of the jungle… Perceptions of Jesus may be as varied as people’s exposure to or teaching about Him but there are some things that are very clear as spoken through His words and demonstrated in His actions.

His Influence

Jesus was a revolutionary. His whole existence was to challenge the status quo. He “came for” the people that had waited centuries for His arrival, challenging the religious leaders of His day to bring an end to the legalistic system that dominated the culture. Instead of perpetuating their controlling methods like they thought He would, He turned their system upside down, causing them to hate Him.

Jesus was compassionate. He felt the needs of people and was moved to address them. He cried when people cried. He showed grace where others cast judgment and gave second chances to those who many didn’t think deserved them. The Savior of the world served and didn’t seek to be served, even washing the feet of His disciples as an ultimate act of humility.

Jesus was for the people. He defended those who needed protection and spent His time with those who society had thrown away and deemed unworthy. The way Jesus lived His life was a direct affront to Bible time religious culture. He was more concerned with the human condition than He was with checking legal boxes and being restricted by tradition. Instead of being constrained by the law of the Old Testament, Jesus let the ruling sect know that He was the fulfillment of the law and therefore wasn’t boxed in by it. He wasn’t disgusted, turned off or turned away by sin or those who were guilty of it. He leaned in to those whom others considered sinners and showed them the love they needed to overcome the sin! Jesus’ position as the ultimate influencer was solidified in the trust He built and the lasting impact He made. Jesus laid His life down for ALL of humanity, not a select few deemed by unqualified “judges” to be worthy of saving.

Questionable Influence

I question what is truly influencing many in the current community of supposed Jesus followers. Instead of approaching the most prevailing issues of our day with hearts of compassion and a desire to help improve the lives of those in need, judgment is passed out like speeding tickets on a high-traffic road. Instead of a willingness to share resources or welcome people despite their differences to try and find common ground, these “CHRIST-ians” spew hate, turn a blind eye to suffering, throw stones and fail to live up to what Jesus Himself called the greatest commandment: to love others as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31).

So if Jesus isn’t the greatest influence on masses of those who call themselves His followers, who, or what, is?

Proper and Improper Influence

There is no question that American culture has drastically changed. An anything goes mentality has become pervasive and has ushered in “realities” that were at one time unimaginable. It’s understandable to be concerned and to wonder where the line will be drawn between what’s right and wrong. The mistake, however, is in believing that over-enforcing and dogmatism is the answer. Pointing fingers and beating people over the head only causes division and results in a hardening of hearts. You can’t “police” someone into a heart change. Jesus drew with love and understanding, not judgment. He warned against acting or reacting out of emotion: be angry but don’t sin. He told us not to be afraid, reassuring us that He would be with us until the end of the age. He met people where they were first and then He challenged whatever it was that had held them captive. We can’t allow the fear of what might happen, or even what’s happening, to cause us to act out of HIS character. We are to be the salt and light that He instructed us to be, positively influencing others, inspiring more to want to be like Him. Fear can’t influence us to the point that we forget that Jesus said people will know that we are His disciples by the love we show to others (John 13:35).

Cultural and historical — even religious — strongholds are tremendous sources of influence. Significant parts of America’s history has been in direct opposition to what Jesus stood for, though the Bible was used to justify much of it. The same elitist, separatist, nationalist mindsets that perpetuated the hate that is woven into the fabric of this country’s history is what is driving much of today’s prevailing thought. It’s being hidden behind big banner issues that are tapping into people’s concerns about the direction that culture is headed, all in the name of “God,” but His is not the spirit behind it.

We Are the Influence

We all have the power of tremendous influence. We as believers in Christ can be the difference between someone accepting or rejecting the Savior based on how we behave, what we say and how we interact with others. What influences us, after all, impacts how we influence others. I pray that we all commit to being less like the Pharisees and other religious zealots that persecuted and were responsible for the death of Jesus, and that we strive to be more like Jesus Himself. It’s the only hope we have for truly bridging the gap between people’s sin and the Savior they need to overcome it.