There is a cost to being famous. We see it every day in the tabloid in the checkout lines. Famous people caught without their makeup, going through relationship problems, abducted by aliens, talking to dead people. The list could go on and on. When you are famous, your life becomes fair game for those who gather worthless gossip and spread it around the globe. The redeeming value of the possibility of the President divorcing his wife, or Justin Beiber racing his car again under the influence of drugs and alcohol is almost non-existent. And yet, so much time is spent discussing these types of meaningless things. But this is the cost of notoriety.
I am glad I am not famous. I wouldn’t want that kind of attention. I don’t want groupies! I am sure I do some things that would make headlines. I have been known to not shave on days off! I like to eat unhealthy food every once in a while.
Jesus was getting famous. He is teaching in a way that communicates His authority. He backs up what He teaches about His identity with miraculous healings. Things that have never been seen before are happening. Crippled limbs become straight and function normally again, in an instant. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this?
Jesus withdraws from the crowds with his disciples. He wants some time alone with them, but the crowds don’t get the memo. Some are desperate to get close to Him, because people who are close to Jesus get healed.
It seems the more Jesus tries to keep things low keyed, the more publicity takes place. People from all over that part of the country start to show up. People travel for days just to see Jesus. And when demon possessed people are in His presence, the demons reveal who He is: the Son of God. These demons know that Jesus in God, that He is the Promised One. They don’t know the complete plan or redemption, but they know Jesus’ presence means their demise.
I don’t know if you have ever wished to be famous. For Jesus success becomes a hindrance to the real mission. He is not here to gather a group of followers, or to heal people, or to give them a feel-good message. His primary mission is to train a handful of people to proclaim the reality of His death and resurrection, and what that means to our eternal status with God.
How we deal with publicity says a lot about who we are, about our character. If we inflate like a balloon when the spotlight comes our direction, it might be time to withdraw with Jesus.
The Arnold Journey 