Unpopular? Jesus?
The one who healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, gave hearing to the deaf, and even raised the dead? Really? How could He be unpopular?
Today I was reading Mark 10:1-12 and Jesus’ teaching on divorce. It reminded me that the teachings of the Lord Jesus were not popular with everyone in His day, nor are they appreciated by many in ours. So what are some of the reasons why Jesus and His teachings were not popular– so much so, that the “good” and most respected people of His day cried out for His crucifixion?
Reasons for Rejection
He exposed Darkness
Jesus came as a light in a dark world, exposing the sin and evil around Him (John 3:19). Those who didn’t want to face their sinful nature and repent of their wrong rejected Him. Those who in their need were willing to say “cleanse and forgive me, Lord” found Him to be a Friend indeed. The Pharisees and Sadducees were the religious, pious-looking people of the day. They were too “good” to accept their need of forgiveness, and paraded their good works before others while at the same time committing evil deeds in secret. Thus the Lord Jesus often exposed their sin, expressing grief and giving warning (e.g. Matthew 23:13, Luke 11:35-39 ESV).
He expressed Doctrine
The Lord’s teachings were not accepted by all. He taught that people should not get a divorce (Mark 10:9-12) and that those who divorce one partner and marry another are committing adultery. Yet He went further and said that even to look at a woman lustfully was to commit adultery, bringing eternal judgment (Matthew 5:27-29 ESV). (Note that the act is a separate sin, and not the same thing.)
Again, the Lord foretold the judgement that was coming on the religious rulers of His day because they had rejected God’s Son, and this led them to seek His arrest (Matt 21:43-46 ESV). Instead of receiving His teaching as the truth, they tried to tempt Him into saying something wrong, and even sent spies to try to get Him in trouble with the law (Luke 20:20-23).
The Lord Jesus spoke more of hell than of heaven. He passionately warned of coming wrath for those who did not take refuge in Him and believe His words.
The Lord spoke against religious traditions, offending the religious rulers (Matthew 15:12). The religious people of that day were consumed with keeping the Sabbath, following made-up rules not found in the Bible (Matt. 15:9), ceremonial washing (Matt. 15:2), and eating the proper foods. Yet they turned the Sabbath into something God never intended it to be, failed to care for their parents out of greed (Matthew 15:5 ESV), and were all taken up with outward show instead of inward righteousness (Matthew 15:8). They even tried to accuse the Lord for healing people on the Sabbath day (the day God set aside for rest). On one occasion, He explained how healing a man was not breaking God’s law, and proceeded graciously to heal a man (Matthew 12:1-14). Their response: they conspired together how to destroy Him.
He assumed Deity
The Lord Jesus was unpopular because He claimed to be the Son of God. The Jews took this as blasphemy of the deepest sort, and eventually used this as the principle reason to justify His crucifixion (John 5:18, Matthew 26:63-66, John 19:7). They ignored the proofs He gave that He was who He said He was, including the plain teaching of the Old Testament.
He endangered their Desires
The Jews were afraid that if Jesus received widespread acceptance, their place of authority and prestige would be taken away (John 11:47-48). In short, they were envious and self-centered, causing their minds to be distorted and closed to truth.
Received by Some
I should mention that the Lord Jesus was not unpopular across the board. The religious people of His day said of Him, “He is a friend of tax-gatherers (thieves) and sinners” (Matt. 11:19). They couldn’t understand how a good man could associate Himself with ungodly people, even to eat with them! We read, “the common people heard Him gladly” (Mark 12:37). The Lord Jesus was willing to associate Himself with those who were willing to receive His word.
Crowds followed Him pretty much wherever He went, but most were only interested in what He could do for them rather than recognizing His true worth (John 6:26-27). Yet, though they were not large in number, there were those who recognized who He truly was and believed in Him. It was to these faithful few that the Lord Jesus revealed the truth of God, and it was to these He appeared after His resurrection.
Lessons for Believers
The Lord Jesus Himself gave us a lesson from this. “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…” (John 15:20). Those who are true Christians can expect to be shunned and looked down upon, even hated. The Lord Jesus was “hated without a cause” — for doing good (John 15:25). So we should be ready to do good, even if it means we must suffer for it.
People tried to find a reason to accuse the Lord Jesus, but could find none. So may our manner of life be “worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27 ESV). May we not be found using the name of the Lord as an empty word, or bringing dishonor to the name of Christ. May we not turn the Bible into a means for personal gain (2 Corinthians 2:17 ESV), but instead, let us speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
I am challenged by the words of the book of Acts to be bold for the cause of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, that those who hear may readily acknowledge: “he has been with Jesus!” (Acts 4:13 ESV).