One of the things which is mostly media hype is that of being an influencer. Many follow an influencer’s advice in our world, particularly within the marketing arena.
Once I read that an influencer “is someone who has the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of his or her authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with his or her audience and a following in a distinct niche, with whom he or she actively engages.” An influencer thrives in influencing others. Publicity is his or her lifeline. But publicity does not fall from the clouds. One has to work for it. Thus, to maintain good publicity, the influencer has to be with the people he or she is influencing.
In some influencer marketing media there is a sort of schema which portrays the ideal influencer. The more I reflected on these seven qualities the more the Holy Spirit taught me how these can be easily applied to Our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus Christ possesses these essential traits apt for a marketing influencer.
To begin with, Jesus does his marketing for the Kingdom of Heaven. In actual fact Jesus, throughout his life, ministry and words, continually markets for His and Our Father in Heaven. He tells us many things about the Father. For instance, Jesus defends the sanctity of the Father’s house, the temple. St John recounts in his gospel: And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” (John 2:16). The Father has entrusted all things into Jesus’ hands. He tells us: The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand (John 2:35). Also, Jesus even speaks of his special loving relationship with the Father simply because He is loved by the Father since the latter reveals himself to him through the works of his hand. This relationship is revitalized continually by the ongoing revelation of the Father to the Son. Jesus tells us: For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing; and greater works than these will he show him, that you may marvel (John 5:20).
Jesus is carrying out this vital and crucial work of revealing to us the Father in seven ways, much on the same lines a marketing influencer does to convince consumers to buy the product he and she is marketing about. First, Jesus, the Holy One of God (Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34; John 6:69) is personable. His agreeable, sociable and pleasant spirit is helping you and me to put our trust in Him. He is connecting with us in his friendly and warming ways. Thanks to his love for us Jesus is helping you and me to respond positively to his love. And when we go to him with our negative feedback on life and on how we are feeling He always has that powerful reassuring word for you and me. In fact, in the gospel of St Matthew Jesus tells us: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matt 11:28-30).
Furthermore, Jesus is the influencer because He is aligned to the values of the Kingdom of Heaven. He is perfectly lined up with the Father’s wishes. His values are the same as those of the Father. Jesus is vocal about the Father and His Kingdom. His way of thinking is perfectly aligned with those of the Kingdom of Heaven. He believes so much in the Father that he gave his life for Him. In John’s gospel Jesus tells us: I and the Father are one (John 10:30). Jesus further explains this gigantic statement in John 3 where He says: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17).
Jesus is the perfect influencer because not only He gives his life to the Kingdom of Heaven, thus combatting Satan and his defeated kingdom of darkness but also He is relatable. Jesus is empathic because He continually puts himself into our shoes. That is why he squarely told us: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5). He is full of sympathy towards our painful experiences. It is His genuinity and authenticity which makes me say to us: Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16: 23-24). How beautiful is this special influencer that while He certainly keeps at heart the values of the Kingdom He is also aligned in listening to our prayers!
The fourth characteristic Jesus has as the influencer is that of being responsive. Jesus keeps posting his message on the facebook of our hearts each and every single day. He is so active in the social media platform of the spirit! He communicates to us so well that He keeps engaging you all your life long. He is thoughtful, truthful and respectful in His personal comments to you. For instance He tells you and me: If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9: 23-25).
He does respond, in His time of course. In Mark 4 we have the story of the great storm of wind which arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling (Mark 4: 37). Jesus remained in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (Mark 4:38-40). Thank God that the disciples took him with them in the boat, just as he was (Mark 4:36). However, Jesus acted in the storm at His time not theirs.
Jesus is the influencer because he is utterly consistent and reliable to create a solid foundation between Him and the Father. He tells us that by following Him we can have direct access to the Father. Thus, Jesus is the high-quality content of the Kingdom. He tells us: I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me (John 14:6). Through his teachings, parables and His ultimate giving of His life for us Jesus nails this reality into our being.
Jesus is supra tech savvy. His high-quality content, photos, automating posting etc this He does directly onto our hearts. He tells us in the Book of Jeremiah: But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (Jer 31:33). His law, the law of love, is aesthetically consistent, well-made and of high quality.
Finally, Jesus is the influencer because he is creative. His content is absolutely creative because it offers the absolute possibility of eternal life. That is why He tells us: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:14-16). He who believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36). Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24).
Jesus, you are the real and only one influencer that exists because you market for the Father, our eternal life. Help me to be captivated by your message and your saving example which leads to my eternal life. Amen.
