THE PERFECT LIFE: CHRIST THE SUPERSTAR
“But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.”
– John 7:10
The Feast of Tabernacles was a very popular occasions. Aspects of it were what we might call good fun. Many people in Galilee, including Jesus’ own family, were getting ready to go to Jerusalem for the festival when James and the others offered their brother some advice.
It is a shock to discover that the brothers of Jesus did not believe in him as the Son of God, the one sent from heaven to whom they must submit unconditionally for eternal life. They grew up with Jesus and were his familiars and yet they seem singularly unmoved by a perfect life – the rarest thing in the entire universe! Doesn’t it seem incredible?
If the perfect life made so little impact it is unlikely that people will be impressed by goodness. They wanted the world’s definition of fame. A celeb that the world acknowledged. Great accomplishments in themselves do not always count for much. Jesus brothers acknowledged He did miracles but still they did not believe in Him.
The brothers of Jesus wanted to see if Jesus was validated by the people qualified to judge – the pundits and politicians in Jerusalem. They thought his status depended upon the approval of the religious hierarchy.
Sounds like our modern day idea of celebrity. Someone approved by the public, has followers and fans, has a lot of money and yet lives a clueless life. He is fast to put every thing he does in the public eye but also quick to hide his scandals.
Jesus gave a precise example of what a celebrity should be like showing wisdom and soberness with humility but as we can see from the chapter, the world is too myopic to see the bigger picture and therefore disregarded Him because they focused on the world’s idea of a celebrity. Little wonder Jesus said the world hates Him because He testifies against it.
But look at it this way, it’s over 2000 years, yet the name of Jesus keeps reaching the end of the world… Now tell me, whose fan would you rather be?
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