Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: John 6:1-15

In John 6, a great crowd of people were following Jesus. We’re told that they were following Him “because they saw the signs He had performed by healing those who were ill.” (v.2) No doubt they were filled with great excitement and anticipation. What would be next? They were certainly not disappointed when, after captivating them with His authoritative teaching for the whole day, He took a small parcel of food (5 barley loaves and 2 small fish) and miraculously distributed that food to the crowd in such a way that everyone ate their fill and the disciples still gathered 12 baskets of leftovers.

This Jewish crowd, steeped in the Law of Moses, remembered what Moses had prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites…” With awe and wonder they concluded, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:14)

Then, suddenly, as the murmur of excitement spread through the crowd, that realization became less about awe and wonder, and more about what they imagined this Man could do for them. If he could perform so many healing miracles and feed a great multitude with that tiny parcel of food, imagine what life could be like with Him as their king. The power of the oppressive Roman Empire could never stand up to His miraculous power. Any soldiers wounded in battle could simply be healed and returned to the battlefield. He could establish peace and freedom from tyranny. And imagine a kingdom where the king could supply daily bread for everyone!! They would never go hungry again. They would never be oppressed again. So, as v.15 says, Jesus perceived that “they intended to come and make him king by force.” Knowing what their expectations were, and how wrong their understanding of His Kingdom was, Jesus “withdrew again to a mountain by himself” (v.15).

Months later, with the miracle of Lazarus still fresh in their minds, it is highly likely that the crowds who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem as “the Son of David” and the “One who comes in the name of the LORD” had similar misconceptions about the Kingdom Jesus had come to establish. William Barclay suggested that the thought in their minds was: “This man has power, marvellous power. If we can harness him and his power to our dreams, things will begin to happen.”

Both in John 6 and at His “triumphal entry” Jesus’ response to these expectations was to resist them with every fibre of His being. His Kingdom was utterly different to their expectations. It was not of this world. It was a Kingdom of gentleness, humility, kindness and life-giving, self-sacrificial love, not of military power and pomp!

Today let us search our hearts. When we come to Jesus, is it for strength to succeed in our own plans and ideas, or is it for humility and obedience to accept His plans and purposes for us? Is our prayer: “Lord, give me strength to do what you want me to do” or is it actually: “Lord, give me strength to do what I want to do”?