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No Middle Ground: Why Jesus Is the Most Polarizing Figure in Human History

There is something about Jesus of Nazareth that refuses to let people remain comfortable. Throughout history, no single figure has inspired more passionate devotion or more fierce hostility. He does not seem to leave room for casual indifference. You are either drawn closer to him or pushed further away. As C.S. Lewis famously observed, Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or he is Lord. Those are the only options on the table.

This tension is not accidental. Jesus himself said he did not come to bring peace but a sword — not a call to violence, but a recognition that his claims are so absolute, so all-encompassing, that they demand a response. And the way people respond reveals everything about the condition of their hearts.

Three People Who Drew Closer

In the gospel of John, chapter 12, we find a dinner party that is unlike anything the world has ever seen. Gathered around a table are a man healed from leprosy, a man raised from the dead, and Jesus himself. Three other figures in this scene offer a stunning portrait of what it looks like to move toward Christ.

The first is Lazarus, described simply as a friend of Jesus. That word — friend — carries more weight than it might first appear. For many people, the idea that Jesus could genuinely call them a friend feels almost too good to be true. We are all too aware of our failures, our patterns, our private struggles. Surely Jesus must be disappointed, frustrated, ready to give up.

But look at the people Jesus chose to surround himself with. Rough-edged fishermen. A violent nationalist. A dishonest tax collector. Scripture is filled with people who were deeply flawed — Noah, Moses, David, Solomon — and yet God worked through every single one of them. The message is not that sin does not matter. It does, and God will deal with it in his time. The message is that no failure is a disqualifying attribute when you come to Jesus in humility and dependence, waving the white flag and saying, “I cannot do this on my own. I need you to save me and transform me.”

That is how you become a friend of Jesus.

The second figure is Martha, and she deserves more credit than she often receives. Every time we encounter Martha in scripture, she is serving. She discovered something that many Christians miss entirely: serving draws you closer to the Lord. Jesus himself said in Matthew 20 that he did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. When we serve, we become most like Christ. The Christian walk grows stale and spiritually flat when all we do is consume — sitting, listening, taking in — without ever pouring anything back out. The soul comes alive when it gives.

The third figure is Mary, who is always found at the feet of Jesus. In this passage, she takes an expensive perfume worth nearly a year’s wages and anoints his feet, wiping them with her hair. Whether she fully understood it or not, she was doing two profound things simultaneously: anointing him as king, and preparing his body for burial. She was worshiping him. Micah 6:8 describes what God requires of his people — to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Mary is the picture of that humility. She walked humbly with her God, and it drew her ever closer to him.

Three People Who Drifted Away

The same gathering that reveals these portraits of devotion also exposes three sobering examples of hearts moving in the opposite direction.

Judas Iscariot looked every bit the part of a faithful disciple. He knew Jesus’ teachings. He prayed for people and saw them healed. He repeated Jesus’ parables and people came to faith. By every external measure, he appeared devoted. But internally, a cancerous idol had taken root: the love of money. He had been quietly stealing from the disciples’ treasury for three years. First Timothy 6 warns that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, leading people away from faith and piercing them with many sorrows. Judas is the sobering reminder that you can have all the knowledge, witness all the miracles, and still love something else more than Christ. What you love most will ultimately determine where you end up.

The chief priests represent a different but equally dangerous drift: pride. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, it was definitive, empirical proof that the resurrection was real — something the Sadducees had long denied. Rather than humbly reconsidering their position, they dug in. They even hatched a plan to kill Lazarus — apparently without stopping to consider that a man who had already come back from the dead once might do so again. Pride makes you blind. It makes you foolish. It hardens your heart against the very truth that could set you free. The desire to always be right is one of the most effective ways to ensure you never actually find the truth.

Finally, the crowd. They waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna” as Jesus entered Jerusalem. But their devotion was conditional. They wanted a conquering military messiah who would overthrow Rome, provide for their needs, and make their lives easier. When it became clear that Jesus had come first as a sacrificial lamb rather than a conquering king, their shouts of praise turned to cries of “Crucify him.” They had come to Jesus with a predetermined list of expectations, and when he did not meet them, they walked away.

The Question That Cannot Be Avoided

Jesus is not interested in neutral observers. He does not offer a middle ground. You are either moving toward him or away from him, and the direction you move is shaped by what you love, what you are willing to surrender, and whether you are willing to follow him on his terms rather than your own.

The question worth sitting with is a personal one: Is there something pulling you away from Christ right now? An idol, a stubborn pride, an unmet expectation you have been holding against him? And what is he asking you specifically to do with that?

Because hearing alone is never enough. At some point, you have to respond.

COVE GROUP GUIDE

Cove Group Guide

Based on the Message: “Moving Toward or Away From Christ” — John 12

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Open your time together in prayer, asking God to soften hearts and make the conversation fruitful. Encourage group members to bring their Bibles and to have read John 12 before gathering.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Jesus is polarizing. There is no neutral ground with him. Every person in John 12 is either moving closer to Christ or drifting further away. The same is true for us today.

2. Three postures draw us closer to Christ.

  • Lazarus reminds us that Jesus calls us his friend — not because we have earned it, but because of his grace.
  • Martha reminds us that serving Christ draws us closer to him and brings life to a stale faith.
  • Mary reminds us that walking humbly at the feet of Jesus is the foundation of genuine worship.

3. Three attitudes push us further from Christ.

  • Judas was led away by the love of money, a seductive idol that corrupts from the inside out.
  • The chief priests were led away by pride — they would rather be right than encounter the truth.
  • The crowd was led away by a self-made version of Jesus that did not match who he actually is.

4. Knowledge alone is not enough. Judas heard every message, witnessed every miracle, and still walked away. What matters is the condition of the heart, not the appearance of devotion.

5. Jesus is a sacrificial Messiah before he is a conquering king. He came first to pay for sin. Expecting him to simply make life comfortable will lead to disappointment and distance.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

OPENING — Getting the Conversation Started

  1. Pastor Chad opened with examples of things that polarize people — the dress, toilet paper, baseball teams. What is something that tends to divide people you know? What does it feel like to be on the unpopular side of a debate?

  2. C.S. Lewis argued that Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. Before you came to faith — or in seasons of doubt — which of those options did you find yourself leaning toward, and why?

DIGGING IN — Exploring the Text

  1. Read John 12:1-8 together. What details stand out to you about this dinner party? What does the atmosphere of this gathering tell you about how different people relate to Jesus?

  2. Pastor Chad described Lazarus as a “friend of Jesus” and said that many Christians struggle to truly believe Jesus loves and likes them. Do you relate to that struggle? What has helped you — or what is hindering you — from believing that Jesus genuinely calls you his friend?

  3. Martha is shown serving, and Pastor Chad pointed out that serving draws believers closer to Christ. Have you experienced a season where serving reignited your faith? What happened? If you have never served in a meaningful way, what has held you back?

  4. Mary is always found at the feet of Jesus — learning, grieving, and worshiping. What does it look like practically in your life to walk humbly with God? What gets in the way of that posture for you?

  5. Pastor Chad said Judas scares him because Judas looked the part completely. He knew the sermons, witnessed the miracles, and even prayed for people who were healed — yet his heart was dominated by the love of money. What does this teach us about the difference between external religion and genuine faith?

  6. Read 1 Timothy 6:9-10 together (Paul’s warning about the love of money leading people away from faith). In what subtle ways does money compete for the loyalty of your heart? How do you know when money has moved from a tool to an idol?

  7. The chief priests refused to reconsider their beliefs even when confronted with hard evidence in the form of Lazarus being raised from the dead. Can you think of a time when pride kept you from seeing the truth clearly? What finally broke through that pride?

  8. The crowd shouted “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday and “Crucify him” just days later because Jesus did not meet their expectations. Have you ever been disappointed with God because he did not do what you expected or wanted? How did you process that disappointment?

GOING DEEPER — Personal Reflection

  1. Pastor Chad asked to consider honestly: is there something in your life right now that is pulling you away from Christ? Without requiring anyone to share publicly, take a moment of quiet reflection. Then, if anyone feels comfortable, share what the Lord may be surfacing for you.

  2. Pastor Chad closed by saying that we get stuck when all we do is listen, and that we must do something with what we hear. What is one specific step you sense God is asking you to take this week based on this message?

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The following are concrete ways to respond to this message in the coming week. Encourage group members to choose at least one.

For those who resonated with Lazarus — receiving friendship with Christ: Spend time this week reading Romans 8:31-39, which describes the depth of God’s love. Each morning, before getting out of bed, say out loud: “Jesus calls me his friend.” Notice how that simple act shapes your day.

For those who resonated with Martha — the call to serve: Identify one area where you can begin serving at your church or in your community. If you are unsure where to start, reach out to a church leader this week and ask how you can plug in. Do not wait for the perfect opportunity.

For those who resonated with Mary — walking humbly: Set aside 15 minutes each day this week to simply sit quietly before God. No agenda, no list of requests. Just be present with him. Bring your Bible and read a passage slowly, asking God to speak to you through it.

For those convicted by Judas — the idol of money: Prayerfully review your finances this week. Ask honestly: does how I spend and save reflect someone who trusts God, or someone who trusts money? Consider taking one practical step of generosity — giving to your church, a neighbor in need, or a ministry you believe in — as an act of worship and a declaration that God is Lord over your finances.

For those convicted by the chief priests — pride: Think of one relationship or one belief where you may be holding on to being right rather than being open to truth. Pray specifically about that area. If appropriate, reach out to someone you have been in conflict with and take a step toward humility and reconciliation.

For those convicted by the crowd — a self-made Jesus: Write down your honest expectations of what following Jesus should look like. Then open the Gospels and compare those expectations to what Jesus actually said and promised. Ask God to replace your version of Jesus with the real one.

CLOSING PRAYER GUIDE

Close your time by praying together. You may use this as a guide:

  • Thank God for the grace that calls broken, flawed people his friends.
  • Confess any specific idols, pride, or false expectations that have created distance from Christ.
  • Ask for the Holy Spirit to produce in each group member a heart like Mary’s — humble, devoted, and always at the feet of Jesus.
  • Pray for one another by name, asking God to meet each person in whatever they are facing this week.

FOR FURTHER STUDY

The following passages connect directly to themes from this message and are worth exploring on your own or as a group in the coming week.

  • John 11:1-44 — The raising of Lazarus, which sets the stage for everything in John 12
  • John 15:12-17 — Jesus calls his disciples friends
  • Luke 10:38-42 — Mary and Martha, and the tension between serving and sitting at Jesus’ feet
  • Zechariah 9:9 — The prophecy of the king coming on a donkey, fulfilled in the triumphal entry
  • 1 Timothy 6:6-10 — The dangers of the love of money
  • Micah 6:8 — Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God
  • Matthew 20:25-28 — Jesus came not to be served but to serve

5 DAY DEVO

5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide

Based on the Themes from John 12 and the Message by Pastor Chad Blackman

Day 1: The Friend Who Never Gives Up On You

Reading: John 15:9-17

In this passage, Jesus declares the depth of his commitment to those who follow him, calling them not servants but friends.

Devotional:

It is one of the hardest things to believe — that Jesus actually likes you. Not just tolerates you. Not just endures you. Likes you. Calls you friend. The enemy works overtime to convince you that your failures have pushed Jesus past his limit, that he is perpetually disappointed in you. But look at the people Jesus chose to walk beside him. Rough fishermen. A violent nationalist. A dishonest tax collector. God has never once recruited from the ranks of the already-polished. He recruits the broken, the messy, and the willing. Today, sit with this truth: Jesus knows everything about you and still calls you by name. That is not tolerance. That is love. Receive it.

Personal Reflection: What lie have you believed about yourself that has made it difficult to accept that Jesus calls you his friend? Bring that lie before him today and ask him to replace it with truth.

Practical Application: Write down one specific failure or struggle you have been convinced disqualifies you from God’s love. Then find one person in Scripture who carried a similar flaw and was still used by God. Let that be your anchor today.

Day 2: The Servant’s Secret

Reading: Matthew 20:25-28; Romans 12:1-8

In Matthew 20, Jesus redefines greatness entirely, pointing to his own life of service as the model for his followers. In Romans 12, Paul describes the body of Christ as a community of people whose diverse gifts are meant to flow outward toward one another.

Devotional:

Martha is often remembered for her frustration, but there is something quietly beautiful about her that deserves a second look. Every time she appears in Scripture, she is serving. She discovered what many restless Christians have not yet found: that service is not a burden added onto the Christian life. It is one of the primary engines of it. When the Christian walk begins to feel flat, stale, or lifeless, the problem is often not a lack of input but a complete absence of output. You were not designed to simply consume. You were given gifts, abilities, and a unique capacity to meet needs that no one else around you can meet in quite the same way. The soul comes alive when it pours itself out. That is not coincidence. That is by design.

Personal Reflection: In what areas of your life are you primarily consuming rather than contributing? Where might God be calling you to serve in a way you have been avoiding or overlooking?

Practical Application: Identify one specific way you can serve someone this week — in your church, your home, or your community. Do not wait until the moment feels right. Step into it.

Day 3: At His Feet

Reading: Luke 10:38-42; Micah 6:6-8; Psalm 131

In Luke 10, Mary chooses to sit at the feet of Jesus while the world around her demands her attention elsewhere. Micah 6 calls God’s people to walk humbly with their God. Psalm 131 is a quiet meditation on a soul that has learned to rest rather than strive.

Devotional:

Mary is always at the feet of Jesus. She learns there. She grieves there. She worships there. There is a posture of the soul being described in her story that goes far deeper than a physical position. It is the posture of someone who has decided, above all else, that nearness to Christ is the greatest prize available to a human being. She anoints his feet with something extraordinarily costly, and in doing so, she crowns him king and honors him as Lord without fully understanding the weight of what she is doing. Humility does that. It acts in love before it fully understands. Walking humbly with God means releasing your grip on your own agenda and trusting that his feet are worth following even when you cannot see where they are leading.

Personal Reflection: What does it look like practically for you to walk humbly with God in this current season of your life? Where are you still gripping your own agenda more tightly than his?

Practical Application: Spend ten minutes today in silence before God. No requests. No agenda. Simply sit at his feet. Let that be your act of worship.

Day 4: The Idol That Promises Everything and Delivers Sorrow

Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19; Matthew 6:19-24

Paul warns Timothy plainly that the love of money is a root that produces all kinds of evil and leads those who chase it into ruin. Jesus, in Matthew 6, makes clear that the human heart cannot genuinely serve two masters at the same time.

Devotional:

Judas is one of the most terrifying figures in all of Scripture, not because he was obviously evil, but because he was not obviously anything. He looked the part completely. He knew the sermons. He prayed the prayers. He even saw people healed through his ministry. And yet, quietly, beneath the surface, a cancer was growing. He loved money more than he loved Christ. That love did not announce itself loudly. It crept in slowly, one small compromise at a time, until it had consumed him entirely. The warning here is not for the obviously greedy. It is for the quietly divided. It is for the person who has been around church long enough to know all the right words while their heart drifts steadily toward something else. Money promises security, freedom, and significance. It delivers sorrow. Repentance is not weakness. It is the bravest thing a divided heart can do.

Personal Reflection: Honestly examine your heart. Is there evidence that money, financial security, or material comfort has begun to compete with Christ for the throne of your life? What does that look like in your daily decisions?

Practical Application: Review your last month of spending and giving. Let the numbers tell you honestly what you value most. Then bring what you find before God without defensiveness and ask him to reorder your desires.

Day 5: Moving Toward Him or Away From Him

Reading: John 12:12-19; Revelation 3:15-20; Hebrews 12:1-3

John 12 presents a crowd that celebrated Jesus as king but abandoned him the moment he failed to meet their expectations. Revelation 3 warns against the danger of spiritual lukewarmness. Hebrews 12 calls believers to fix their eyes on Jesus and keep moving forward.

Devotional:

There is no spiritual Switzerland with Jesus. There is no neutral ground, no comfortable middle distance where you can observe him without being asked to respond. The crowd in Jerusalem discovered this the hard way. They welcomed him with palm branches and shouts of praise, but their devotion was built on an expectation he never promised to fulfill. When he did not deliver the kingdom they had designed for him, their Hosannas turned to something far darker. It is a sobering portrait of what happens when we come to Christ on our own terms rather than his. The question the message rightly asks is the one worth sitting with today: are you moving toward him or away from him? Not in theory. In the actual, daily, concrete choices of your life. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Keep moving.

Personal Reflection: Have you placed conditions on your trust in God? Have you told him, consciously or quietly, that you will follow him if he delivers a specific outcome? Name those conditions honestly before him today.

Practical Application: Choose one area of your life where you have been waiting for God to perform before you fully surrender it to him. Today, surrender it without the condition. Trust that he is good even before the outcome is clear.