Jesus - An Influencer

Today we’re talking about Jesus an Influencer.

You know, these days everybody’s talking about influencers. Social media is full of them — people who tell us what to wear, what to buy, how to live. But long before Instagram and TikTok, there was someone shaping lives and hearts in a much bigger way — Jesus.

In John 7:4–7, His brothers were pressuring Him, saying, “You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” But Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.”

Unlike today’s influencers, Jesus wasn’t chasing fame. He was shaping eternity. He influenced not by popularity but by truth, love, and sacrifice. And the amazing thing? His influence is still alive in us today.

We listen to music, we read books, we listen to podcasts, and we scroll and scroll, and we like things that are cool and may even make life easier. But at what point do we let those things influence us so much that we start changing and adapting to them?

If we are willing to adapt to those things that we listen to, watch, and see, are we also willing to adapt to the things of the Bible and all that God leads us to?

What influence do you allow into your life, and who do you follow?

One story in the Bible where we can see that belief in God and His influence was chosen over anything else is with the story of Noah.

Talk about someone who was pressured and ridiculed because he believed in God and in the rain that no one had ever seen before was about to come.

How would you be able to stand against people when you believed in something that God told you about, but no one had ever seen what you were told about?

Would your influence of what God said outweigh the loudness of those against it and those who didn’t believe?

Noah did — people literally thought he was crazy, but he didn’t let any of that change what God had told him.

Let’s be so influenced by the Word of God that nothing can shake us from staying in line with what it says and what God says.

We are to be the salt and light of the earth. We are to follow God and stay the path. But if we decide to let worldly things have more influence over us than God, then that salt that we are to be becomes useless and that light we are to shine becomes dim.

As the Bible tells us, we need to take the words and actions of those against us and be thankful for them, because then we are in a better understanding of what Jesus went through. Not only that, but our reward is also in heaven and not on earth.

Stand firm in Christ and be the salt and light to the world. In that way we can influence others by the work of the Lord.

In John 7:4–7, His brothers were pressuring Him, saying, “You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” But Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.”

Jesus knew what was going on... His brothers were being typical brothers and trying to push Him. But He stood His ground and said, “It is not my time, bro.”

We need to be careful about letting those around us influences what we are doing.

As parents, my husband and I were the first influence my children had. We imprinted so much on them, and as the years have gone by and we have lived a life for Christ, as best we can, I can only pray that all we have done to show them how to live with Christ as the center will have a greater influence on them and that they are drawn to wanting that kind of relationship.

I often think about the fact that they each have their own testimony, and God will use them as He sees fit. So, though they may go through different things in life that I wouldn’t want them to, all I can do is remember that they were His children first and pray that my husband and I did as God called us to as their parents.

So, though we were their first influence, I want God to be their last and most important influence.

I was reading a book, and it talked about Jesus and how He stayed on mission no matter what. It said that all things are done with a purpose for God and we need to be willing to be open to all moments and see them as an opportunity for God.

I’ve thought about this with Jesus’ walk many times. Nothing was inconvenient for Him. All was done with purpose.

Listen, I sometimes see things as very inconvenient because it has taken me away from something or it has taken me off my plan or course for the day. But in reading this book, I was convicted yet again to remember that God makes ALL THINGS work together for His good, and I should see everything as an opportunity for Him to work through me and not as an inconvenience.

In John 7:4–7, His brothers were pressuring Him, saying, “You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” But Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.”

Though Jesus knew what was to come, He wasn’t overrun with the “just get it over with” mentality we can sometimes let influence our patience.

He instead knew that God’s timing was exactly where it should be, and He honored and obeyed it.

Let’s not let things change our path because they are hard. Let’s follow God and His truths as our influence in this life.

In the Old Testament, there are probably more kings that followed the path of the king before them compared to those who changed the outcome of things.

When this happened, God called them on it. They liked living the way of the world instead of making the changes they knew they needed to in order to live the way of God.

As you are being refined by God, seek out the changes that need to be made. Let His truth in your life influence you over the comforts of maintaining where you are. It will be hard to make changes, but in the end of it all, you will be doing the work that God has for you, and with that you will be strong to live a life for Him.

Lies over truth… Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s what. We are bombarded with a lot of information.

Paul pointed this out to the Romans. He told them that they exchanged God’s truth for lies and decided that worshiping created things over the Creator was better for them.

When we let social media, music, and other things influence us, we are somewhat deciding that those are the things we are willing to believe over the truth of God and His Word.

As we close, let’s think about what made Jesus the greatest influencer of all time.

It wasn’t clicks, likes, or followers — it was the way He lived with humility, the way He loved people deeply, and the way He spoke truth even when it wasn’t popular.

John 7 shows us that His timing was different, His mission was different, and His purpose was eternal. He wasn’t interested in being “Insta-famous.” He came to change lives — including yours and mine.

So, as you step into your day, here’s the question: whose influence are you following, and whose influence are you leaving behind?

Because when we follow Jesus, we’re not just influenced — we’re transformed. And that kind of influence doesn’t fade away.