One could make a strong argument that Jesus is the most influential person to ever live.
Think about all the places Jesus shows up. Art museums–he’s there.
Awards acceptance speeches and post-game interviews—he’s there.
On t-shirts, bumper stickers, and billboards—he’s there.
Which is wild when you consider how his life began.
Jesus was born to poor parents in a backwater town. He grew up and started teaching a way of faith that upended many social and religious norms for his day. And his reward for this? He was brutally executed by the Roman Empire in an attempt to shut him up and snuff out his following.
What happened next was even more wild.
Followers of Jesus witnessed him alive after his death and burial. For them, his resurrection proved he was who he claimed to be, and his way of life was worth following.
But the following was tough. Most of Jesus’ closest companions were murdered due to their connections with him. The small churches which sprang up around the Mediterranean faced brutal persecution—beatings, imprisonments, executions. Despite it all, what started as a ragtag group of around one hundred followers expanded into the world’s largest religion, with over 2.3 billion followers today.
What is it about Jesus that causes people to follow him even when it costs them dearly? Why does he inspire people to create great works of art, or build their careers and institutions upon his teachings?
Maybe part of the answer lies in how people talk about encountering Jesus today. His life on earth took place 2,000 years ago, but when you talk to people who believe Jesus, they speak as if they know him personally, like he’s with them on their commute, or lives next door. For them, his teachings and his Spirit transcend the historical record—he impacts them now. After 2,000 years, he’s still changing lives.
Admittedly, influence isn’t everything. Plenty of influential people use their power for great evil. And immense harm has been done in the name of Jesus.
Yet, despite it all, there’s something too compelling to shake. When those who claim to speak for Jesus act nothing like him, his reputation seems to falter. Yet, people keep finding Jesus—the real Jesus.
Maybe his influence endures because the substance of his character and the power of his teaching withstand the tests that poor imitations falter under.
If Jesus keeps showing up, maybe he’s worth getting to know.