This Certainly Is the Prophet

Lesson #98

In this lesson we will focus on verses 14 – 15 found in the section defined by John 6:1 – 15: “Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone” (John 6:14 – 15 NET). Here we have another example where Jesus does or says something in the natural realm as a way of pointing to the spiritual realm and the people simply do not get it. We have covered three examples of this: The temple (the building – his body) John 2:18 – 22; Born again (physically – spiritually) John 3:1 – 8; Water (physical water – living water) John 4:7 – 15.

This crowd of people just experienced a great sign by being fed from five loaves of bread and two fish and conclude that Jesus is the Prophet. The problem is their understanding of the Prophet. They see him as a king to lead them against Rome not as one who gives his life as a ransom for sinners to provide eternal life as the living bread. This prophet is the one Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18:15: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him” (NASB). Moses heard God speak to him from the burning bush on the side of the mountain and these people are with the Prophet that Moses spoke of, also on the side of the mountain. Jesus as the Prophet was raised up from among them and as Moses listened to God these people are to listen to Jesus. Unfortunately, the people were not willing to listen and learn what God wanted then to know, but instead desired him as a king to meet their physical wants. Are we not like that today, asking God to meet our request and not willing to be quiet before him and listen.

In future lessons we will consider the bread God gave the people through Moses and see how that connects to what Jesus says about him being the true Bread from heaven. However, in the meantime, Jesus knowing that the crowd was going to come and seize him by force to make him king, somehow withdrew further up the mountainside away from the crowd. Do you suppose when our approach to Jesus is for the wrong reason that he might withdraw from us?

Prayer

Lord, this lesson causes me to think about my relationship with you; to think about the balance between listening to what you want to say to me and what I want to say to you. As I further think about what I say to you I think about the balance between thanking and praising you and my request for you to do something for me. Lord, I am learning that life is learning to surrender to your Lordship and to abide more deeply in you.