Scripture
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Reflection
Jesus had just fed the crowd of 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes. Based on this miraculous sign, people thought he is the Prophet and wanted to make Jesus king. The Israelites had been wrong before; they thought John the Baptist was the Prophet. In the long history of this people, they have been waiting for their Messiah to deliver them out of their troubles. But God, their rebellion, had not spoken to them for 400 years. So when the people saw Jesus performing miracles, their hopes went up.
Jesus knew what was in the people’s hearts; they wanted a king who could perform miracles of healing, of provision, but not for what Jesus was teaching. Just a short while before this incident, Jesus had been in Samaria and met the woman at the well, where he revealed himself to be the Messiah. Many Samaritans believed: “ They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world’” (Eph 4:41-42). Compare that with the crowd of Jews who were celebrating the Passover feast, supposedly in remembrance of everything that God did to deliver them from slavery, yet they didn’t want to turn to God; they still wanted a king to rule over them.
The kingdom that Jesus belongs to and wants to bring us into is not of this world, but the people didn’t see that. They wanted to forcibly take Jesus and make him their king. As Jesus himself told the disciples who found him afterwards, Jesus answered them: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Have I wanted something from God, not caring about what is on His heart but only mine? Let us recognize and worship King Jesus as who he truly is: the Savior of the world.
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell you about God or Jesus?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- How can you apply this message in your current situation
Prayer
Jesus, help me to see you in my everyday circumstances. I want to know you as a close friend, but also as Lord of my life. You alone are sovereign, and help me to trust you in all things.
