Morning Thoughts - Marketing Jesus

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24)

If a marketing executive was to suggest a strategy to market Jesus he would definitely promote the following:

o Jesus as Bob Geldof going out to save the starving and needy in the world
o Jesus as Bono challenging the rulers of the day to put their money where their mouth is and care for the people
o Jesus as Lenny Henry bringing cheer and life to those destitute and without hope and marginalised in society

All these images we can imagine being projected in a fast moving advert portraying Him as the man of the people, real, intimate, caring and compassionate – who just wants to be the same to you.

One thing our marketing executive would not want to promote is Jesus’ talks about sacrifice, self-denial on a consistent basis, death of self to produce life for others, giving up of rights to do the right by God. That image would be off-putting, no one wants to lose their life and such a marketing ploy would be bound for disaster – no one buys that. Yet Jesus is clear that this is a fundamental part of the package – indeed without it all the other marketing gimmicks are incomplete, shallow and deceiving.

The way to God is through obedience – and an obedience that will allow us to be like Christ in everything – and that must involve denying ourselves, dying to ourselves to follow Him.

4 His Name's Sake

Shalom

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