Focus on Metaphysics:
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Question #5: What about peer pressure?

Everybody wants to be liked, even popular. But sometimes that desire gets us into trouble. It tempts us to do things that may not be right for us. We may agree to accept a major because our best friend has chosen it. Perhaps our parents want us to pursue a certain career, or a favorite teacher or mentor influences us.

Christ Jesus faced this same problem. For many centuries the prophets had been predicting a Messiah would come. For a while before Jesus arrived on the scene, some people began to interpret this prediction to mean that a powerful human leader would fight to free the Israelites from the grip of their oppressors.

The spiritual meaning of Messiah was nearly lost. Jesus did come to free people, and not just the Israelites but all the people on earth, (as well as all of us to follow), from every form of slavery -- including oppression from disease, sin, and even death. But some people had a preconception that he should be a fierce soldier, and go to battle with the Roman army. He had bigger battles to wage, and he won them all. But those wanting a humanly powerful leader largely missed the point.

Jesus stayed true to his mission, which he heard from God directly. Human events since then confirm the rightness of his courage in staying the course set for him by God.

King James Bible:
(Jesus’ words) "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
	John 17:4, 5
Message for 1901 by Mary Baker Eddy
"It is well to know that even Christ Jesus, who was not popular among the wordlings in his age, is not popular with them in this age; hence the inference that he who would be popular if he could, is not a student of Christ Jesus."
	p.28:24