The world today is full of ‘celebrities’. Talk of them fills the tabloid newspapers and titillates readers of magazines. They (we?) are fascinated by behind-the-scenes reports, catching them off guard. Prime-time TV is full of stars clamouring to promote their latest venture, while millions of fans clog up cyberspace with websites devoted to their favourite celebrities.

But people's fascination with stardom goes beyond the goings-on of the rich and famous - many want a slice of the ‘high life’ for themselves. This wanting fame for its own sake - for attention and often money rather than to develop a talent - has been most clearly seen in reality TV shows such as Pop Idol and Big Brother. Many of the thousands who auditioned for judges and TV cameras for Pop Idol simply said they wanted to be famous, rather than talking about their love of singing and a desire to pursue it professionally.

One of the many injustices of this world is that it is so easy for those with little talent or ability to be successful through self-promotion and canny marketing, whereas many more gifted people are left behind. Often those with the greatest ambition or need for attention can elbow their way into the limelight, with talent as a secondary consideration.

There are three reasons why our Lord Jesus Christ could never be a celebrity:

1. He didn’t promote himself

In John 7:3-4 Jesus’ brothers urge him to go south from Galilee to Judea, so that his mighty works could be marvelled at by a wider audience. They cannot understand why he would not want to promote himself in this way. It was the kind of advice that would be given by any publicist or agent who wants maximum exposure for their client. It was worldly and not of faith. But then, as John tells us in v5, ... even his brothers did not believe in him.

So often we see the Lord Jesus warning enthusiastic people not to make him known. On one such occasion Matthew (12:15-21) quotes by way of explanation part of Isaiah’ prophecy concerning the Servant of the LORD, who will not cry out, nor raise his voice, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street (Isaiah 42:2). Jesus was always wary of crowds. But this was not because he was temperamentally shy or of a nervous disposition. It would be wrong to think of him in those kinds of terms. We are told in John 2:24-25 that Jesus did not commit himself to the people because he knew what was in their hearts. He knew how fickle they were.

We know that he never sought recognition in the world. The essence of the incarnation is that Jesus’ divine glory was veiled. The transfiguration was an amazing exception to the general rule, and even this glimpse was restricted to his three closest disciples.

2. He worked to God’s agenda

On this occasion as on others Jesus is pressed to do something now, to take advantage of the opportunity. His brothers will always be at the mercy of circumstances and pressures, Jesus says. For you any time is right (John 7:6, NIV). But Jesus’ thinking is dominated by the concept of ‘my time’ and ‘the hour’. He is following the Father’s agenda and will not be drawn aside. The Son of Man came not be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Already Jesus has had to resist pressure from the crowds to assume political leadership. They had seen him feed the 5000 and for them the obvious next step was that he should assume leadership on a national scale. He would be invincible! But Jesus knew they were attempting to hijack his mission (John 6:15). It was both wrongheaded and premature. They misunderstood the nature of his kingship. Jesus had to act decisively, sending the crowd away and making the disciples go off in the boat, before withdrawing for solitude and prayer.

Celebrities are so often controlled people. Once in the hands of someone like Max Clifford the agenda is set for them. Money is the controlling factor. How often we have seen people in the limelight acting not from principle or conviction or integrity but just from greed.

3. He preached against sin

I testify… that its works are evil v7. By the purity of his life, character and words Jesus condemned sin. In him was no darkness at all. But men loved darkness rather than light.

Along with Mary Whitehouse, Donald Soper and others, Cliff Richard played a prominent part in the 1971 Festival of Light organised to protest against, among other things, the then fairly novel -and to many shocking - open promotion of homosexuality. (Incidentally virtually all the listed items I found on an internet search for ‘Festival of Light’ were references to the Hindu festival Diwali – a sign of the times!)

Interviewed recently, he shrugged off his former ‘intolerance’ and made bland statements about accepting all lifestyle choices. So we have a ‘Christian’ celebrity who is enduringly popular but morally neutral, who says nothing about sin. If the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything… (Matthew 5:13).

How different was the Lord Jesus Christ! He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him…He was despised and rejected by men… Like one from whom men hide their faces (Isaiah 53:2-3). But by the Holy Spirit we are drawn to him and his grace. We are fascinated by everything about him. We love the beauty of his holiness, the consistency of his righteousness.

The term ‘celebrity’ would offensively demean our Saviour. The one before whom the apostle John fell prostrate as though dead is the Lord of glory, the King of Kings, the Judge of all men. He made himself of no reputation, and has a Name above every other name.