”48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

After receiving bread and fish the people were ecstatic. They saw Jesus’ spiritual miraculous powers from God. They thought He was the prophet to come to win over the world - that He would overtake the Roman government and make Israel number one again. He was to be made King and given the honors and powers that befit a king. They were once again going to do what they felt needed to be done - to take Jesus by force and make Him their ruler. Herod would be replaced.

That was not the mission of Jesus at this time or in that way. First, He was to be our savior. The next time He returns, He will rule as king. They did not get that message. They wanted Him now. They were excited about the healings and the miracles. The message was taken and not applied as intended. It was altered. It changed. It was seen through selfish eyes. They wanted political reform, not spiritual reform. Remember that as we enter elections, people want political reform and political power, not spiritual reform and spiritual power. This is true with many churches as well. Popularity exceeds repentance. Selfish needs over giving ourselves to God’s disposal.

People try to induce us to lay aside the plan of God for us and adopt another plan which they think is better. This was true for Jesus. John the Baptist questioned Jesus’ means. Peter rebuked Jesus. His family told Him that He had it all wrong.

When you place your plans in God’s hands, expect incredible things to happen, but be careful that your expectations of God aren’t so narrow that you don’t see it. A speaker was addressing a large group when he took a large piece of paper and made a black dot in the center of it with a marking pen. Then he held the paper up before the group and asked them what they saw. One person quickly replied, “I see a black mark.” “Right,” he replied. “What else do you see?” Complete silence prevailed. “Don’t you see anything else?” he asked. “I’m really surprised,” the speaker commented. “You have completely overlooked the most important thing of all—the sheet of paper.”             

The multitudes came thinking they knew better than Jesus did. The Sanhedrin, high priest, religious scribes and temple leaders, as well as the secular political forces, all had in mind how they might change Jesus into being better, but God’s plan was the true redemption of the world and the overcoming Satan. That was Jesus’ mission. No one was going to stop Him no matter how well meaning they might be, but they were uninformed.

The crowds followed, but for the wrong reasons. They wanted entertainment, eating, miracles, bread, fish wine, and a hero. Jesus responded that some believed in Him.

What is our mission? What is it that people keep diverting us from? Our mission is that we might glorify the Father and bring people to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Ever notice how often that mission is thwarted?

Dale