READING: 1 Kings 10-11, John 6:1-15
I can imagine the murmurs that worked their way through the crowd of 5,000 men, perhaps as many as 15,000-20,000 people all together. “Look at the sign he just gave us. Surely he’s the prophet to come.” “He must be the one coming to free us from the bondage of Roman control.” “Finally, we can be free again!” “We need to convince him to take his throne now.” “We need to make him the king, even if we have to do it by pressing him into service.” The crowd must have worked themselves into an obvious enthusiasm, for “Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king” (John 6:15).
Jesus would allow no such uprising, however. He came to set up a kingdom, but His rule would come through His defeating Satan and death through crucifixion and resurrection. Rather than allow the people to get what they wanted, Jesus “withdrew again to the mountain by himself” (John 6:15). He left the crowds behind and sent His disciples on their way to avoid this wrongly-directed cry for a king.
Mark 6:46 tells us that Jesus specifically went to the mountain to pray—to spend time with the Father. Jesus would rule, but not according to the plans of the people. He would rule according to the plans of the Father.
PRAYER: “God, grant me grace to follow You, regardless of what others want or suggest.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Kings 12-13, John 6:16-37
