Staying Popular

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:25-33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

http://bible.com/114/luk.14.25-33.nkjv

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Jesus wasn't looking to be popular. If He were on social media, He wouldn't be looking at the number of 'likes'. Though, actually, in His day, He had many that liked Him. As it says in this passage, "Now great multitudes went with Him..." That would be a pretty big Twitter following! 

But Jesus wasn't interested in His popularity. He didn't focus on keeping it either. Where many of us would be tempted to say or do anything so as not to lose our following, Jesus recklessly did the opposite. He put His whole 'career' on the line and spoke radical challenges to his fans. 

And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple..."

Whoa, Jesus. Way to risk your entire ministry! You say things like that and people may get turned off and walk away.

Exactly.

Jesus' message was not an ear tickler. He wasn't interested in telling the people what they wanted to hear to make a bigger name and following for Himself. What He was after was people's sincerity. He was looking for people who were not just interested in seeing Signs and Wonders, (and He was doing many!) but people who were serious about turning from their ways and loving God with all their hearts. Jesus said the things that His Father wanted Him to say. Simply put, Jesus was not interested in pleasing people. He was interested in pleasing His Father.