Reflections: Aspiring influencers, then and now

Teaching first-graders in an area after-school program a few years ago, I was surprised during a “when you grow up” lesson assignment to see how many, even at that young age, included being an online “influencer” in their future goals, albeit without actually using that word. “I wanna be a You-Tuber” showed up more than once; another young man wanted to create online cartoons; still another wanted to be a champion gamer. Asked why, most responded something like “So people will know about me.” 

Studying in the Gospel of Mark, I was recently intrigued by a couple of aspiring influencers: James and John, two of Jesus’ 12 apostles and closest followers. In chapter 10, Mark tells us they approached Jesus with a request, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory” (v. 37). 

Growing up as Jewish young men, they likely knew the prophecies about the future kingdom of a victorious Messiah. They were starting to connect the dots about Jesus’ identity, but they hadn’t quite figured out the timeline or the “Suffering Servant” passages. They may have expected that at some point, He would defeat the occupying Romans and start setting up his kingdom; and they wanted to get their names in for key positions. Matthew’s account records that they even got their mom involved in the request. 

Of course, this didn’t make them popular with their fellow apostles (v. 41), so Jesus called a special meeting to set everyone straight, saying, “. . . Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. . .  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (v. 45).  

Eventually, they figured it out. After Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, the apostles DID become influencers—not in the way they had first thought, but empowered by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel and establish the Church. 

Looking around at the proliferation of “influencers” today, I wonder if maybe we’re not all that different from James’ and John’s understanding of things. The temptation is certainly there for social media, production-oriented worship and megachurches to derail us into thinking it’s all about us. Not that any of those things are wrong in themselves; to reach our current culture, we need to wisely use current tools. But checking on a neighbor who’s been sick, dropping off some groceries at CAM, or setting a good example for my grandkids, are just as important as getting the tech just right while we sing, being the featured speaker, or getting lots of “likes” on a comment. 

James and John may have been tempted to focus on the possibilities for heroism alongside Jesus; but their true heroism was of a different kind. Once they witnessed the ultimate servanthood of Jesus in his sacrifice for our sins, their focus shifted to dedication: James was an early martyr, and John lived to old age as an encourager of the Church and recorded the Revelation he received of what is still to come. 

Whether as writers or content creators; as leaders in our churches, families and workplaces; or as prayer warriors, it’s important to keep the focus on serving and not on ourselves. The Holy Spirit will open the doors for us to be influencers, just not always in the way we might expect.