The Discovery

The Discovery

John 6:14-15, NLT

When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

Setting the Scene

The people were impressed. What Jesus had done in multiplying the loaves and fish was a sign that Jesus was not a mere mortal. At the very least he was the prophesied Prophet to come. The people saw and filled their stomachs as a result of this sign—who could have missed it?—and this led them to believe that Jesus was “the Prophet” Moses had predicted (Deuteronomy 18:15-18). John does not say the people were wrong to think of Jesus as “the Prophet,” but the next verse shows they thought this Prophet should be a political leader. In this they were wrong.

Elisha foreshadowed this Prophet (who was one and the same as the Messiah) to come. According to 2 Kings 4:42-44, Elisha fed one hundred men with twenty loaves (a 5:1 ratio), but Jesus fed five thousand with five loaves (a 1,000:1 ratio)! Isaiah 25:6-9 says the Messiah will prepare a great feast for all people, Jews and Gentiles. This miracle showed Jesus to be the Messiah.

The people wanted a king, a leader who would free Israel from Rome. The people expected this of the coming Messiah-King. When Jesus realized their intentions, he left. Jesus’ Kingdom would not be an earthly one established by a groundswell of popularity. In the wilderness, Satan had already offered Jesus this same opportunity for political power (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus knew the immediate opportunity was nothing compared to what God had planned.

Later we find that the people may have been more interested in Jesus’ meeting their physical needs than anything else (see John 6:22-40).

Getting Personal

As you see Jesus in action in the pages of Scripture and especially in this incident, what are you noticing about his identity and his power?

How does what you’re learning about Christ change your relationship with him?

As the disciples watched Jesus, they began to discover his person and purpose. More than feeding hungry people on a hillside, Jesus was revealing his true identity and limitless power. In each incident, each interaction with their Lord, the disciples understood a bit more.

Talking to God

Ask God to give you increased realization of his character and holiness and power. Thank God for revealing himself to you through his Word and especially through the divine-human person, Jesus.