Popularity is dangerous. We’ve all heard the cautionary tale of a celebrity whose rising star crashes to earth. Or maybe we’ve observed narcissistic leaders using and abusing their environment. When people start attracting crowds, it rarely ends well.
But knowing this truth doesn’t stop us from dreaming of glory. It also doesn’t stop us from following the famous. As humans, we incessantly crave fame for ourselves, or at least hope to somehow bask in its fame through others.
Of course, this phenomenon is nothing new. Apparently as old as mankind. But that’s one way Jesus’ character is unique. He was oddly unfazed by celebrity. He never sought out the crowd – and when the crowd went looking for him, that led to his prime.
gospel of glory
When you read the Gospel of John, the issue of popularity is hard to overlook. John immediately lets us know that he is a witness of the glory of Jesus (1:14). And from the start, that glory turns into a spectacle (1:50). Jesus wows the crowds with his miracles (2:23). Some see this immediately as a threat. John the Baptist’s followers warn that “all go to him” (3:26). But John isn’t about challenging his own personal approval. He rejoices to see his platform fading as Jesus’s is exalted (3:30).
This is in sharp contrast to the Pharisees. Throughout the Gospel of John they consistently seek glory through others (5:44). But they are not the only ones. Jesus says that many hesitate to follow him because they “love the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God” (12:43). Their desire for human approval is manifested in their fear of what others—especially the influential ones—might think, say, or do (7:13; 9:22; 12:42; 19:38:20:19).
Of course, we expect such retreat from the weak in society. But ironically, in John’s Gospel, as in all of life, it is the powerful like Pilate who continually serve the masses (18:28-19:16). Public opinion makes everyone a puppet.
Except Jesus. Throughout John’s gospel, Jesus lives to an audience of one. He’s clearly not out to draw a crowd. In fact, his brothers mock him for his modesty. They think he should capitalize on his fame, so they try to persuade him to make a name for himself. “Show yourself to the world,” they urge (7:4). Meanwhile, the bigwigs in Jerusalem are obsessed with Jesus’ fame in the Galilee countryside. When he goes on tour with his show, they wonder if he’ll find favor with the Greeks (7:35).
That is their great fear: that Jesus will win the popularity contest of their day. That he gets more fame than her. And in Jesus’ final visit to Jerusalem, the competition reaches its climax. As Jesus rides in with the crowd, shouting “Hosanna!” We hear the Pharisees murmur a version of what John’s disciples first lamented: “Behold, the world has followed him” (12:19).
Greek seekers
It is at this point in John’s gospel that we see that the Pharisees have more than one problem with pride. You have a problem with perspective. Apparently not the whole world was after Jesus. It’s not like he’s making headlines around the world. Jesus didn’t have millions of social media subscribers. Sure, this rabbi from Nazareth was popular. But when it comes to following him, Jesus doesn’t hold a candle to today’s celebrities and influencers.
However, the size of the crowd is not of primary importance. While John clearly portrays the Pharisees as paranoid, he agrees with their point of view. The next line in his gospel confirms Jesus’ worldwide appeal: “Among those who went up to the feast to worship were some Greeks,” and they come to seek Jesus (12:20-21). Sure enough, Jesus isn’t just drawing crowds from Jerusalem or Bethany, where he just raised Lazarus from the dead. He pulls Gentiles from who knows where.
But what happens next is just incredible. When the Greeks ask for an audience, Jesus immediately begins to speak of his glorification—and death:
The hour has come when the Son of Man will be glorified. Verily, verily I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but when it dies, it bears much fruit. . . . Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say? “Father, save me from this hour”? But that’s what I’ve come to this hour. (12:23-24, 27)
Jesus is not enthusiastic about worshiping fans from afar – attention the Pharisees could only dream of. Instead, these Greek seekers serve as a kind of trigger that starts the ticking clock. Throughout the Gospel of John the reader is being prepared for the coming of the “hour” of Jesus. And here it is. At that very moment, when the world comes to Jesus, He must go to the cross. It is time for the Son of Man to fall to earth and die.
If the world comes to Jesus, then he must go to the cross.
drawing crowd
Readers of the Gospel of John will probably wonder what happened next to the Gentile seekers. Maybe they met Jesus. But it doesn’t matter. Because on that day Jesus knew what the Greeks needed most was not to meet him. They didn’t have to witness a miracle or see a sign. They certainly didn’t need his autograph. What they needed – what the world needed – was that Jesus die (compare 1 John 2:2). That’s why he came. Dealing with the glory-seeking, different pride in all of our hearts as we humbly lay down one’s life for the sin of the world (John 1:29).
As Jesus said, when He was exalted, He drew all people to Him (12:32). So in a way you could say that Jesus went to the cross to attract a crowd. But not because our leader is a narcissist who lives for the limelight or demands to have his way. No, we serve a king whose finest moment was the hour of his self-giving and sacrifice. Whose rising was his falling. His elevation was his suffering. Whose glory was his shame.
We serve a king whose finest moment was the hour of his dedication and sacrifice.
On one level, Jesus died because of his popularity. It was really dangerous. The Pharisees and Sadducees could not bear his growing influence and decided to silence him (11:45-53). But on another level, Jesus died because it was his goal all along (12:27). He did not succumb to a Jewish conspiracy, a Roman ruler, or an angry mob. As Jesus told pompous Pilate, no political authority or military guard could take him by force (19:11). Instead, he gave his life for love of the world. Yes, the crowds sent Jesus to the cross – because he came to save the crowds.
This is the amazing nature of Jesus’ fame. Here is a man unfazed by human acclaim and unafraid of human humiliation. Here is a god whose greatness is shown in his condescension and caring. At Christmas we rightly remember what happened when he was born. But at Easter we should celebrate what happened when the world came to Jesus. This is truly the hour of his glory.
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