Why didnt Jesus allow either rejection or popularity to have an affect on Him?

Answer 1

Because he was focused. He remembered why he came to the earth in the first place. It was to teach people about God and his kingdom and to give his life for our sins.

Answer:

Jesus was the "WORD" who made the universe [John 1:3]... including "man."

"...Jesus would not entrust Himself to them, for He knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man." (John 2:24-25)

Jesus walked as a man among men with a whole different overview of what He was looking at than the average person.

He knew what His mortal life's mission was [to sacrifice Himself for man, whom He didn't trust]... as opposed to most people who live and die in a fairly clueless state, regarding "their purpose in the world" beyond leaving a new generation behind.

Jesus knew that these people [like most people] are easily emotionally swayed and manipulated. He knew that these same people who believed, praised and worshiped Him one minute... were the same ones who would shout "CRUCIFY HIM," at His kangaroo-court trial.

Jesus walked in the Spirit, not after the flesh, like most. He was unencumbered by the fickle crowds among whom He walked. He had a time frame to which He needed to adhere... and was engrossed in the work His Father had for Him to do.

A different perspective:Rejection and popularity not only had an effect on Jesus, He masterfully used both to propel His earthly ministry. What were the multitudes that followed Him, if not the "effect of popularity"? What was the crucifixion itself, if not the "effect of rejection"?

Some passages that speak to the effect of His popularity, on both Himself and others:

Matthew 4:24, 25 - Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him - from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Mark 1:40, 41 - Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."

Mark 3:9 - So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.

Mark 3:20, 21 - Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind." [Context: Because of His popularity, on this occasion Jesus was so involved performing healing miracles that He wouldn't even stop to eat, making his own family think he had lost His mind!]

Mark 6:34 - And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

Mark 8:1-3 - In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar." [The miraculous feeding of "about four thousand" (v.9) follows this passage.]

Luke 5:14, 15 - And He [Jesus] charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded." However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. [At times, the multitudes were so great that they were actually a hindrance, which Jesus wished to avoid compounding.]

As to the effect of rejection:

Matthew 12:14, 15 - Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. [In this one verse is seen the effects of both!]

Matthew 13:47, 48 - So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 23:37 - "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"[A classic lament, born of rejection]

Mark 3:4, 5 - Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

Matthew 26:37-39 - And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

Luke 22:44 - And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus was by no means "unaffected" by rejection and popularity. It does Christ true disservice to forget that He was not only God incarnate, He was also a flesh-and-blood man JUST LIKE US (Hebrews 2:17), and as such, was prone to the very same emotional responses we all are. The glorious difference between Jesus and the rest of mankind was the Godly manner in which He reacted to such influences. He was certainly affected, but never distracted or deterred.

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34)

[Quotes from NKJV]