They were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king

John 6:1-21 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). ² A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. ³ Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. ⁴ Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. ⁵ Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” ⁶ This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. ⁷ Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” ⁸ One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ⁹ “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” ¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. ¹² When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” ¹³ So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. ¹⁴ Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

¹⁵ So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

¹⁶ Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. ¹⁸ The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. ¹⁹ Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. ²⁰ But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” ²¹ So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

In today’s text it says:  Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”  So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.  They, the people, were wanting to make Jesus a political or military king. That was not the reason Jesus came. He came as a redeemer and spiritual king.  We don’t determine whether Jesus is king or what type of king He is. Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. In Matthew 28:18 Jesus says: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”   We don’t determine what Jesus has authority over. He has all authority. We only choose whether or not we will be obedient or disobedient to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Look at the context; look at the miracle or sign that the people saw that motivated them to want to make Jesus king. The text says:  Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?”  This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.  Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,  “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”  Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.  When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.”  So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.   There are many today who seek a king that will provide for their needs. Many seek the Lord for provision and blessing, yet the refuse to honor and obey Him as King and Lord of their lives. Jesus is a king who is loving, compassionate, gracious, righteous and just. Psalm 89:14 says:  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.  Rather though than be subject to the righteous, loving and just authority of Jesus, many will bow to a government which provides for their needs. Unfortunately, with the government, along with provision there is oppression. Truth is no longer absolute, but it is determined and applied as those in power see fit. Righteousness is replaced by unrighteousness. Those in power serve only themselves and those who bow to them serve only their agenda as well.

The text says:  Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.  The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.  Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened.  But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”  So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. Jesus is Lord over even time and space.  In Matthew 8:26-27 it says:  He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.  The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”  Jesus is Lord over the wind and the sea. He is the Lord over all of creation. Jesus says today:  “It is I; do not be afraid.”   Are you willing to receive Him? In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus says:  “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Amen. You are Lord of all, and so I will gladly bow and yield every area of my life to You. Thank You for Your righteousness and justice. Thank You for Your truth and loving kindness. Thank You for Your blessings and provision. Most of all thank You that even though You are my King, You died for me so that by the power of the Holy Spirit I can live for You.  Amen.