“He Withdrew” (John 6:15)

“Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come & take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.” vs15

The Lord Jesus will not be king on our terms: He is the King of kings and Lord of lords as appointed by the Father, and He’ll be King on His terms only. Man wants a social savior – peace on earth between men and plenty of health and prosperity, but the Lord Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. “My kingdom is not of this world’, said Jesus. ‘If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here (John 18:36).’”

He didn’t come so man could get along and we’d have plenty! He came to reconcile us to the Father, and then to send us into hostile territory to reconcile others (2 Cor 5:20). He didn’t come to end world poverty, but to bring in a new kingdom. Man’s great problem isn’t racism, war, or famine; it is the impending wrath that’s coming; it is being out of sorts with the Father and offensive to the holiness of God; it is the doom and gloom of rejecting the Savior and eternal life.

The gospel teaches us how to live. John the Baptist taught those who came to him about repentance. He said, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same (Luke 3:11).” He said, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized”, and, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation; be satisfied with your wages (Luke 3:13-14).” So, he rectified injustice and promoted love in the kingdom, while condemning everyone outside of it, but he didn’t seek a political movement, and neither did Jesus: He teaches us how to live, but He didn’t come for socio-economics. The believer will live godly, but the unbeliever must get to Christ rather than more human wisdom. We, therefore, are not making men moral but godly, and only the gospel accomplishes this.

Do not get distracted and led out of the way. When Joseph sent his brothers to get Jacob, he said, “Don’t argue on the way (Gen 45:24).” Don’t get distracted by any issue – not by politics, social injustice, or saving the world! Don’t argue with each other but unite in the One Cause and the One Thing Needful.  Don’t let the miseries of life cause you to miss your great purpose! You and I have a God-given mission to reconcile sinners to the Father, and we must preach and give ourselves entirely to it. “But He told him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God (Luke 9:60).’”

Brothers, there’s so much wrong with this world, but there’s only one remedy from God’s wrath, which is forever. Teach Christians how to behave and call men to Jesus Christ for salvation. Do not get distracted by things that will not last forever.