Jesus, the Great Influencer Posted on May 11, 2026

~ image by rattanakun from Canva

Retired pastor Glenn Wagner advocates choosing to live following Jesus, whose example of love and grace is transformative.

GLENN M. WAGNER
Michigan Conference Communications

According to Google, there are an estimated 12 to 13 million full-time content creators, also known as “influencers,” in the United States today. Additionally, over 10 million Instagram users are considered to have “influence.” Over 50,000 of these online influencers are classified as macro-influencers, with 100,000 to 1 million followers. Over 5,000 are identified as mega-influencers, with more than 1 million followers.

The expansion of the global Internet and the rise of social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) have dramatically changed how, why, and where people are influenced.

In his great commission to his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commands them to spread the Gospel and make disciples in all nations. In other words, all who follow Jesus are to be influencers for Jesus’ love, grace, and hope. We are called by Jesus to be a positive influence on others in every aspect of our lives. According to The United Methodist Church’s mission statement, we are to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

While some are gifted with podcasts, broadcasts, pulpits, and other platforms that enable them to reach a larger audience, I would like to gratefully share how others have influenced me toward faithful discipleship. I hope the lessons I have learned prove useful to you.

~ photo courtesy Glenn Wagner

I continue to be inspired by Christ-followers whose lives exemplify “congruence.”

To better understand this notion of congruence, consider a personal decision to brighten a dark corner of your house. You go shopping for a lamp that fits your space and meets your needs. When you find the perfect lamp, you buy it, bring it home, assemble it, screw in a light bulb, position it for optimal illumination, plug it in, and turn it on.

The resulting light is akin to congruence. The lamp meets the need for which it was designed. We would consider it unfortunate if the lamp were needed, purchased, brought home, and then left unassembled in the shipping box in a closet, while the darkness and the need for light went unaddressed. It would also seem wasteful to misuse the lamp as a doorstop or a club.

Like a lamp, I believe God has created us, redeemed us, and called us through Jesus to a life-changing purpose. We are designed, redeemed, and called by God to be more than consumers, purveyors of violence, racists, hedonists, loners, or idlers. God intends that we be more than addicted to our cell phones. Learning to love and follow Jesus is meant to be life-transforming for the good.

I have been greatly influenced in my own faith by learning from and being inspired by other congruent witnesses to the love of Jesus Christ.

~ photo courtesy Glenn Wagner

I recently noticed anew how this transfer of learning works. We were trying to teach our new Boston Terrier puppy, Mitzi, to walk on a leash with us. She resisted all our attempts to encourage her, stumbling and refusing to move despite our vain attempts to tug her along. Then our daughter came alongside us with her older, more mature dog and walked ahead. When Mitzi saw another dog doing what we hoped to teach her, she saw the path ahead and ran joyfully to catch up. Lesson learned!

I have witnessed that when people live their faith in Jesus by linking their unique personal and spiritual gifts to the needs of their context and the teachings of Jesus, a compelling sense within me awakens, and I pray, “Lord, help me to grow like that too,” with insight like our puppy.

I have been inspired to be a better steward of my own resources by the generosity of others. I have been helped through grief by the compassionate care of friends. I have been blessed to learn lessons in hospitality from the graciousness of strangers. Seeing effective witness through groups of Christians who come together to feed the hungry, nurture children, house the homeless, address addiction, protest for peace, or stand against violence and political corruption helps me live more fully as a follower of Jesus.

I have also experienced the life-shaping power of participating in a worshiping community blessed by a congregation in which people share their unique talents for the benefit of all.

As a chaplain working with suicidal and severely depressed patients, I learned that belonging and purpose are essential ingredients to a healthy life.

On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus modeled a life of humble service for his disciples by washing their feet before their last supper. Jesus’ influence is still making a difference for many.~ photo courtesy Glenn Wagner

Years ago, a veteran pastor urged me to make teaching weekly Bible study groups a high priority in my ministry. He told me about the Disciple Bible Study materials offered by Cokesbury and where to get training on using them. His two-minute encouragement has influenced me and many others for more than four decades of my own faith journey. I don’t even remember the pastor’s name. We never met again. But his moment with me and his efforts to influence for Christ have been a life-changer.

Another historic influencer in my life, John Wesley, was the founder of the Methodist movement in England. Wesley lived from 1703 to 1791 and began Methodism in the late 1730s with small groups that met weekly for mutual encouragement through prayer, Bible study, and good works.

Wesley and his fellow Christian practitioners were ridiculed as “Methodists” because they sought to live life with “method,” with a single focus in every aspect of their lives, to give honor and glory to God in all things. In Wesley’s writings, the phrase “single eye” signifies a pure intention of the heart, where one’s aim is focused on God rather than on worldly desires or self-interest.

I am grateful for this Methodist influence, which has touched my life, the lives of my parents and grandparents, many of my friends, congregations, and educational and mission agencies across this country and in other parts of the world. When you consider that the global witness of John Wesley for Jesus Christ reaches 12.6 million people worldwide who identify as Methodist, 15 generations after Wesley, we should know that every positive witness for Jesus, like a pebble tossed in a pond, creates ripples that can radiate more broadly in the world with the love of God.

I believe that Jesus is the greatest influencer in human history.

Aiming to live a life in faithful congruence with the teachings of Jesus is like a lamp illuminating the darkness. From my experience, I have learned that choosing to follow Jesus has been the right option for me. I recommend it for your prayerful consideration.

The publication of this article was made possible thanks to generous financial gifts from local United Methodist churches in Michigan through Ministry Shares. Thank you! Learn about the impact of Ministry Shares on mission and ministry in Michigan and around the world.

Last Updated on May 14, 2026

Posted in Featured, NewsTagged Discipleship, example of Jesus, influencer, Jesus Christ