How Jesus Handled Fame

IT is easy to feel intimidated in the presence of a famous person. People of status and image can easily make us feel inferior, as if we have nothing to offer by comparison. Jesus, however, who became famous among His own people, stood fame on its head by modeling the traits of compassion and humility.

As He entered Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, He gave us a new way for handling acclaim from crowds. The city was wild with excitement during its peak season of tourists and celebration. What a moment for Jesus to bring His campaign to a climax! He even had the prophecies of the early prophets (Isaiah 62:11; Zechariah 9:9) to bolster His confidence. But instead of a parade of chariots and trumpets and a well-orchestrated ceremony, Jesus chose to ride into town on a donkey, a common beast of burden; no prancing war-horse for Him! Instead of walking arm-in-arm with powerful city officials and other celebrities, He was accompanied by a small band of common fishermen, rural Galileans, and even a former tax collector. For once, the common folks had a parade (Matthew 21:8-10).

At the end of the parade route, Jesus did not go to the halls of the powerful. He marched into the place of worship, a national center for the Jews, and overthrew the tables of unjust businesses that manipulated the poor and made the temple a place of moneymaking (Matthew 21:12-13). He focused on the blind, the lame, and children (Matthew 21:14-16). And when He had completed the day’s tasks, He spent the night not in the fashionable home of a city leader but in a humble house in a nearby suburb, Bethany (Matthew 21:17).

Even in His fame, Jesus’ final activities before His death focused on those most ready to hear of His love, forgiveness, and hope, the little people in (or even outside) the system of privilege and power (Luke 4:18). Here is a new style of fame, which can help us when dealing with the temptations that can come when we seek to rub shoulders with the powerful and the elite.

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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