The crowd in Jesus' day was wrong. They followed him everywhere, and benefited from his miracles. Their sick were healed, the lame walked, the dead were raised. Demons came out in terror at the sound of his command. And Jesus accumulated a large group of followers.
Until the day he started talking about the Cross.
I guess people are like that. They go in for crazes and bandwagons. Then, after a while, the celebrated one wears out his welcome. He becomes unpopular--even hated.
The same thing will happen to Obama.
He is inheriting a HUGE slew of problems in this country. And soon he will discover--if he has not already--that leadership is about backbone for what is right, and not about fashion shows, pomp and ceremony, and popularity polls. Count on it.
I mentioned the story about Jesus at the beginning to illustrate that the Word is true once again
in its characterization of the crowd. They whip themselves into a frenzy about whatever, without even really analyzing why to any serious degree, and then when the goods are not delivered in the manner they expect, they hate the one they loved.
This is also a timely reminder to us all who are leaders in any capacity. We are not about popularity. We are about teaching and inspiring others to believe and do what is right. As a father, I am a leader. And so this is for me too.
Note the emphasis on right. Among mere mortals, the best leaders do not postulate themselves as the solution to all the world's problems, but point their constituents to the timeless principles
by which they may enjoy the best life possible.
So leadership is about timeless principles and sources of hope outside of man's ingenuity.
I have not seen this at all in the incoming administration. Or in the would-be administration of the opposing party.
So we are back to the old old story of Jesus and his love. Without that, no hope.
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