he avoided the temptation of power

Devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2403

John 6:10-15

Joh 6:10 Jesus said, “Make the men recline.” There was plenty of grass in that place; so they reclined. The men numbered about five thousand.
Joh 6:11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks he distributed them to those who were reclining– so also with the fish, as much as they wanted.
Joh 6:12 When they were full, he told his disciples, “Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.”
Joh 6:13 So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.
Joh 6:14 When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Joh 6:15 This is why, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

he avoided the temptation of power

Last year, when I was visiting churches in Japan, I visited a castle, and learned that the ruler who built it had solidified his power by hosting a ceremonial tea ritual with many of his underlings. The tea ritual helped the people to see him as benevolent — a provider. No doubt, the crowd of men who participated in this first wave of the miracle saw Jesus in the same light, which explains why they wanted to immediately force him to become their king. Anyone who can provide food like that must certainly be able to deal with the Roman menace.

Jesus returns to the solitude of the mountain. He was there not to deliver the people from bondage to Rome, but from the bondage of sin. To do so, he had to avoid the temptation of power, and sacrifice himself for them, and us.

Thank you Jesus, for avoiding power, and seeking to sacrifice yourself for our redemption.