John 6:1-21 (NRSV)
Read John 6:1-21 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 6After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. Verse 2A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Verse 3Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Verse 4Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. Verse 5When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" Verse 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Verse 7Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." Verse 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, Verse 9"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" Verse 10Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Verse 11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. Verse 12When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." Verse 13So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. Verse 14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world."
Verse 15When 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. Verse 16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, Verse 17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. Verse 18The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. Verse 19When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. Verse 20But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." Verse 21Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
Devotion
I confess I sometimes try to pastor the church without Jesus. I can do a pretty good job of it. I've had enough experience at leading worship, preaching sermons and leading events that Jesus doesn't have to show up. And the other stuff (i.e., set budgets, review staff, run programs, etc.) can be done, and might often be done, without Jesus.
Twice in this reading people want to make Jesus do things he isn't asking them to do. "They were about to ... take him by force to make him king." "Then, they wanted to take him into the boat." But Jesus doesn't get taken. He has his own agenda.
What happens if my agenda doesn't line up with Jesus' agenda? I suspect Jesus doesn't force himself on me anymore than he forced himself on the hungry people and the frightened disciples. But I do think that ultimately Jesus' agenda of reconciling the world, of revealing God's radical grace and of healing a broken world, wins out. I just hope that I can be a part of that.
Prayer
Holy Jesus; forgive us when we try to be the church without you. Help us to hear your invitation to follow you and to be yoked to you. And may you have your way in our lives. Amen.