John 6:15-21 To make Jesus king is to lay down our personal interests while looking to fulfil the agenda of the kingdom
John 6:15-21 To make Jesus king is to lay down our personal interests while looking to fulfil the agenda of the kingdom
So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone. Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. John 6:15-21
Background
After Jesus fed the people, He perceived that they wanted to manipulate Him into being their king. He retreated to the mountain by Himself to pray after sending His disciples to Capernaum by boat. While at sea, they were met with a deadly storm where they witnessed yet another miracle that further strengthened the disciple’s faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus and His disciples not only had to deal with a manipulative mob but a near death experience at sea.
In this episode, the disciples learned about Jesus’s mindset and ministry philosophy – He was not looking for a large following, but to disciple those who desire to do God’s will. The people weren’t intended on acknowledging Him as Lord but to use Him to fulfil their personal agenda. The disciples also understood that a life of obedience to God is often paved with great perils and challenges. However, Jesus was faithful and ever present in their times of trouble. Even when He was physically away from them for a brief moment, His eyes were not. He came to them, refused to be hindered by the storm and took them to safety. As long as believers are walking in God’s divine calling,… to make disciples as He has done, He will give us His authority to do the impossible.
Observation & Truth
So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.
It is ironical that Jesus would reject the crowd who endeavoured to make Him king. Apparently, they wanted Him as their Provider and Protector, not as Lord. Having eaten the bread they did not work for, they decided to manipulate Jesus into providing for them for the rest of their lives. It is clear that by withdrawing to the mountain, He wanted nothing to do with them.
Why did Jesus reject the people’s demand to make Him king? Firstly, they did not humble themselves in repentance and reverence towards God. Their violence and presumptuousness betrayed their zealous calls for His coronation. It is mind boggling how the crowd would audaciously assume their agenda over their “king”. It is no surprise that many in today’s churches (knowing God’s infinite love and power) deem it appropriate for Him to satisfy their every need and want. Hence, they demand God to serve them, but they will not serve God.
Therefore, let us stop focusing on our personal needs believing that Jesus will fulfil it in His way and time. Instead, we must focus our attention to know God’s calling and to establish His kingdom on earth. To make Jesus king is to lay down our needs while looking to fulfil the needs of the kingdom. Jesus said,
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:31-33
On the day of judgment, many will be surprised when Jesus says to them,
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from ME, you who practice lawlessness.’ – Matthew 7:19-23.
Many are seen raising their hands in worship while putting on a “Christian” appearance. Some are seen exercising divine powers in casting out demons and performing miracles. But their motives are wayward and self-serving. In the pretext of making Jesus “king” they honour themselves at the expense of others.
If Jesus’s approach to ministry is of any significance to us, we observe the following:
a. Jesus’s primary mission on earth is not to fulfill human physical needs or wants but to preach repentance and reconciliation with God.
b. Jesus’s primary focus is to equip and disciple men to put on His virtues, authority and mission.
c. Even though many want to make Jesus king, His primary mission is to minister to those who do His will so that they may enter God’s kingdom and reign with Him.
The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
The account in Mark 6:45 recorded, “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away.” Apparently, Jesus had no prior knowledge of the impending storm that endangered the disciples. There was no indication that Jesus was deliberately putting the disciples in harm’s way. The question: should believers expect a smooth and safe passage, whenever we walk in God’s perfect will? The answer is No. The passage of God’s perfect will does not insure a safe passage, but it fulfils His perfect purpose and brings forth growth.
Therefore, disciples of Christ should not look for comfort and safety, but should understand God’s agenda and purpose in every tribulation. Mark 6:52 recorded that the miraculous feeding of the 5000 did not give the disciples insight as to who Jesus is, for their heart was hardened. Thus, it necessitated the tribulation of the storm to open their eyes to recognise Jesus as God’s Son (see Matthew 14:33).
But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat.
At the fourth watch of the night (3am – 6am, Mark 6:48), seeing the disciples struggling against the waves, Jesus walked on water towards them covering a distance of about three to four miles. The disciples were frightened supposing that a ghost had come to them. In this incident, Jesus unequivocally revealed Himself as the Son of God, when He walked on water and calmed the storm after getting into the boat. The disciples also learned a precious lesson… it does not matter how big the circumstances are as long as Jesus is with them. Indeed, Jesus wields absolute authority over the elements of the earth.
In the account of Matthew 14:28, Jesus demonstrated to the disciples that they too can do what He did by permitting Peter to walk on the water. Towards the later part of Jesus’s ministry, He entrusted divine authority to His disciples to perform supernatural works,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” – John 14:12-14
How do we ensure that Jesus is always with us to do things that Jesus did? Jesus said on the day of His ascension,
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20.
As long as believers walk in God’s divine calling,… to make disciples as He has done, His authority will always be ours to wield.
Application
Seeing the way Jesus dealt with the crowd who tried to make Him king, how would you carry out the great commission? How can the church align itself to the great commission and the kingdom of God.?
Is it possible to serve God perfectly while looking to fulfil our personal needs, agenda and interests? In the light of our needs and challenges, how then should we serve God?
In view of the above lesson, how should we deal with the unprecedented challenges? The disciples’ hearts remained hardened despite the miraculous feeding of 5000. Are our hearts hardened despite the word and numerous testimonies of God’s power and wisdom?
Dear Lord, as I make you the Lord and King of my life, I am assured of your presence in every circumstance. Cause me to hear your words of wisdom and to use divine authority to establish peace and safety in my family, church and community. I will set aside my personal agenda to follow you and to serve you alone. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.