ALMOST FAMOUS STARTS SUNDAY

We follow famous people.  Until they become almost famous.  We often take a positive interest in their stories and recognize their faces and enjoy their work, be it business, politics, music, film, sports, whatever.  We recognize that they are famous, but that fame can be fleeting.  Isn't it true that those people are only truly famous in our lives, our communities and our worlds until someone else comes along who is braver, or smarter, or better looking, or more talented? 

We eat our dead.  We relegate famous people to almost famous status with shocking speed and regularity.  Isn't it true that often times the interest we take in a soon-to-be-almost-famous person is sort  of macabre?  You know, like slowing down to take a good long look at a car wreck.  If we didn't buy-in to that as a society, Nancy Grace wouldn't have a job (what a GREAT idea!).   We mock our former famous heroes, or fein shock at their behavior, or speak derisively about them, or applaud ourselves with "I-told-you-so's" as they plummet from the lofty heights to which their fame had lifted them (think: Tiger Woods, Lindsey Lohan, John Edwards, Kenneth Lay, Martha Stewart, Mark Maguire, etc.).

How about those confounding almost famous people in the movies and on television that we know when we see them, or recognize them from other television and movie appearances, but we have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what their name is, but their face is so familiar.  In fact, isn't it true with many such almost famous people, that once having heard their name (which never resembles what we think it might be - think: James Rebhorn), that we can NEVER remember their name again?

How about this:  If Jesus - the actual Living Son of God - was on twitter (I don't know, maybe @theREALmessiah) would you "follow" him?  Would you retweet him?  Would you only retweet the things He said that you liked, or agreed with?  If Jesus only tweeted the "hard sayings", do you think people would "unfollow" Him?  Do we only actually "follow" famous people that say or do things that we like?  Would you "unfriend" Jesus on facebook if he posted: "You are from below; I am from above.  You are of this world.  I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins" (John 8:23-24)?  

Jesus was - and is - undeniably famous...for some.  Interesting how many times Jesus told people not to tell anyone about himself.  It's almost as if He wanted to remain almost famous until the time was right.  One time, one of his disciples answered Jesus' question, "Who do YOU say that I am?", with an answer so strong, so controversial, so dangerous that Jesus "strictly warned them not to tell anyone" (Luke 9:21).  

Amazing then, how all of that changed after the resurrection.  Jesus commanded us to go and tell and make disciples.  It's as if you and I are charged specifically with the responsibility of MAKING JESUS FAMOUS - in our LIVES, in our COMMUNITIES, and in our WORLD.  Hmm...

One thing for sure, He isn't famous until He's famous to you.  He's only...ALMOST FAMOUS.