Belonging (S2) : WK 1 - FRI
(John 6:14-15) When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.
This story should have had a better conclusion. No author or screenwriter worth his salt would end this story the way John did. The people were hungry, Jesus fed them with an amazing demonstration of his power, they recognized that he could free them from oppression, they wanted to make Jesus king, and Jesus walked away from it.
The story should have had the people putting a crown on Jesus’ head, the people bowing before him, and Jesus giving them a Braveheart-like speech where he yells “Freedom!” at the end and they go and conquer the Romans and gain their independence. Now that’s a story we want.
But instead Jesus denies himself that opportunity for power and is all alone, in the hills, by himself. Why?
Alan Fadling in An Unhurried Life has this opinion:
It wasn’t that he didn’t care for the individuals who comprised those multitudes, but they wanted something from Jesus that he didn’t want to focus his attention on. They wanted him to be a meal ticket or a magician—anything but Savior, Lord and God! The crowds were not following him for transformation, but for benefits. Their motivation was far more outward than inward. And their excitement about Jesus would only last as long as he gave them what they wanted.
Fadling, Alan. An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus' Rhythms of Work and Rest (p. 28). (Function). Kindle Edition.
Seeing the work of God in our lives is exciting. It creates in us the desire for more of God. But what is the motivation that moves us? Are we seeking more of God so that he can do more in our lives or are we seeking more of God so that he can do more for our lives? Is God a power for heart transformation or resource acquisition?
Jesus had to walk away from the people because their heart was in the wrong place. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to us.
This story should have had a better conclusion. No author or screenwriter worth his salt would end this story the way John did. The people were hungry, Jesus fed them with an amazing demonstration of his power, they recognized that he could free them from oppression, they wanted to make Jesus king, and Jesus walked away from it.
The story should have had the people putting a crown on Jesus’ head, the people bowing before him, and Jesus giving them a Braveheart-like speech where he yells “Freedom!” at the end and they go and conquer the Romans and gain their independence. Now that’s a story we want.
But instead Jesus denies himself that opportunity for power and is all alone, in the hills, by himself. Why?
Alan Fadling in An Unhurried Life has this opinion:
It wasn’t that he didn’t care for the individuals who comprised those multitudes, but they wanted something from Jesus that he didn’t want to focus his attention on. They wanted him to be a meal ticket or a magician—anything but Savior, Lord and God! The crowds were not following him for transformation, but for benefits. Their motivation was far more outward than inward. And their excitement about Jesus would only last as long as he gave them what they wanted.
Fadling, Alan. An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus' Rhythms of Work and Rest (p. 28). (Function). Kindle Edition.
Seeing the work of God in our lives is exciting. It creates in us the desire for more of God. But what is the motivation that moves us? Are we seeking more of God so that he can do more in our lives or are we seeking more of God so that he can do more for our lives? Is God a power for heart transformation or resource acquisition?
Jesus had to walk away from the people because their heart was in the wrong place. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to us.
- What is your biggest request of Jesus right now?
- Does God feel close or far from you? What is contributing to that feeling?
- Take time to pray to God and ask him to make your motives pure in your pursuit of Him.
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