“When the religious leaders heard this story, they knew it was aimed at them. They wanted to arrest Jesus and put him in jail, but, intimidated by public opinion, they held back. Most people held him to be a prophet of God.”

Who has the real influence is a great question to ponder?  It is the whole of all of us, or is it the small number of people with power and a megaphone?  We tend to believe what that small group tells us as the way that all people think and what they think all of us desire.  But, we all know leaders in our companies and organizations around us who are “out of touch” and when they try and project their opinion on others as if they represent everyone, there is push back.  It is incumbent upon us to not speak or try and lead from a place of not understanding what everyone thinks.  We will be way more effective in our jobs if we are in touch and understand what everyone desires.

The religious leaders represented a small group of thinkers who tried to control the narrative as it related to Jesus.  Sadly, they were the ones who won over others in power so that Jesus was tried and crucified.  Yet, we know that “most people” held Jesus up one who was of God.  They might not have yet come to the fact that He was the Messiah, but maybe with more time, they would have.  It is the same today.  While we live in a very vocal and polarizing time, we should stand assured that Jesus still remains who He is for us and others, a Savior.  And, if we remain steadfast in our belief, love of others and love of Him, we will see that He remains the most important influence over everything and all people.

Reference:  Matthew 21: 45-46 (The Message)