
Quote for the Day
“Jesus…withdrew again to a mountain by himself.”
Today's Prayer
This week draw away by yourself and enjoy the nourishment of time alone with Jesus.
John 6:1-24
John 6:1-24 (NIV)1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the (that is, the ), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near.5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for . By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to in search of Jesus.
Message
Here we see two of Jesus’ most talked about miracles: one done in public and the other in private with his disciples. Between the times of the miracles, Jesus retreats for some alone time with his Father. The first miracle was feeding 5000 people with only 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread with leftovers to boot. Then Jesus shows the disciples his true relationship with the Father by walking on water.My question is, “Why the retreat to the mountain?” The passage states that it was because he knew if he stayed the people would try to make him king by force. I have no concern over that statement and believe it certainly is the reason since that is what scripture states. But contemplating the passage, it seems to me we are able to see once again the depth of the relationship between the Father and the Son. Jesus knew the mission and the plan; he also knew the people did not yet understand the plan in full. He knew they were looking for a victory in this world, not in his. Jesus knew that a political victory was NOT the will of the Father and so he needed to do what was necessary to carry out the Father’s will. Being alone with God the Father was the best way to make it happen, so Jesus withdrew from the crowds.This is the crux of our life as well: we need to withdraw from that which is NOT of the Father. We cannot focus on the politics of the day or concerns for our well-being. Instead we must become one who allows the Father to live in and through and with us, allowing His will to be done.