Were the Beatles More Popular Than Jesus?
Let’s analyze this
On March 6, 1966, a London newspaper quoted John Lennon as saying, “We’re more popular than Jesus now.” Lennon was, of course, speaking about the Beatles. When this news hit the American press, it caused shock among the Southern Evangelical audience, which pushed a boycott of the Beatles’ music.
Did we misconstrue John, or was there veracity in his statement?
Jesus has never been popular. All we have to do is open the Bible, read His life story, and see the truth. It is a fact that Jesus, though popular for a time in His area of ministry, would never be popular in the world. The Old Testament foretold this truth:
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. (Isaiah 53:3, NIV)
From the lips of Jesus, the Bible quotes His words:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18–19, NIV)
John 7 reiterates the hate of the world for Jesus. He knew He would never win any popularity contests.
Two thousand years later, only 30–31 percent of the world’s population, of nearly 7 billion people, worship Him. Jesus is still rejected, despised, and hated by many. When we adopt His teaching, some may hate us.
The Bible points out that the path of people is broad, but the road to salvation is narrow. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for those tied to the things of the world to accept Jesus. Again, these words are from the lips of the unpopular Human One.
Do we place John Lennon on a skewer of judgement, or can we accept the truth of Jesus? Jesus tells us not to judge others, to love everyone, and to be compassionate and kind.
We can be compassionate like Christ, knowing that John Lennon was searching just like us. John also helped to write the song, All You Need is Love. With its simplistic words, John hit it on the head as far as love is concerned.
Love is all we need, and it’s readily available.
The final blow was on December 8, 1980, when John, who wanted to Give Peace a Chance, was shot in the back four times when Chapman fired five bullets from a .38 special revolver.
The story is sad concerning John, his widow Yoko Ono, those who are searching, those who spend their lifetime in prison because of their crimes, the battered, mistreated, hungry, lost, lonely, and especially those who feel unloved. This world would be better if we all understood our access to Christ’s loving grace.
We only must open our eyes as Paul (from the Bible, not the Beatles) did on the road to Damascus. Read his story in Acts 9.
Christ is waiting, right where you are, with open arms to let you see and know that all the love you need is in Him, and the only chance for peace in this world is His to offer. Can you even imagine that?
Unfortunately, Jesus is not popular after all these centuries, even though His message reaches far and wide. Too many years of choosing darkness over light blind us to His grace. Too many years of pain and suffering have hardened the heart to His mercy. Too many years of stuck-up piety with double standards from believers hurts the message. Too many years of hatred, sickness, pain, and death numb our hearts to His goodness.
And we wonder why Jesus is not popular.
We all need a road to Damascus experience, but the chances are slim. Instead, if you are searching, like John Lennon, listen to the still small voice of Jesus in you. You may not have a blinding experience like Paul, but a metamorphosis will happen as Christ will imbue you with His spirit of love and peace.
The Beatles may have been more popular than Jesus during the height of their careers. I don’t know. All I know is this: I’ve joined the unpopular group that follows Jesus, and I reap all His benefits.
Won’t you join me? You will one day ask yourself, “Why did I wait so long?”
