John tells us the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people, just like the other gospels. But John adds something that isn't found in any of the other gospels; after the 5,000 were fed they wanted to make Jesus the king, but he withdrew to the mountain before they could get to him. The text actually says they were going to "take him by force to make him king." (Verse 15)
Jesus ran away before his movement became a political rebellion. The Jews already had a king, his name was Herod. But Herod wasn't really in charge, the Romans were. Making Jesus the king meant that there would be a civil war between the Jews and a war with the Romans. It would have been a bloody mess.
So Jesus gets out of there, he did not come to be a politician, or start a war.
He did not come to be a king, he came to be The King.
It was hard for his followers to understand; it is still hard to understand. Jesus has no interest in a kingdom of dirt and a castle of rock... He is interested in our hearts. Jesus doesn't rule a land, he rules a people.
The people wanted to take him by force to be the king... While most kings take their subjects by force. Jesus isn't interested in either. Jesus doesn't rule with a fist or a sword, he rules with love. He doesn't force anyone to love him, yet he loves all of us to the point of death.
Jesus didn't kill others to become a king, he died to become The King.
And he died for you.
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