The Greater Plan
By Stefan Johnsson
John 6:15-21 (NIV)
15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,
17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.
18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.
20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”
21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Who is this Jesus? When he could be crowned King, he runs away to hide. Jesus did not seek fame or fortune, he never did and never intended too. He had a purpose on this earth, a greater and more glorious purpose, one that would save the world from sin, one that required his death on the cross.
Jesus knew exactly what he was doing and he was led by the Holy Spirit as he went, knowing the hearts of the multitude he had just fed with bread and fish. They were seeking a savior from the Romans, not a savior of their sinful hearts.
The disciples failed to see the significance of who Jesus wasover and over again. Did they not understand that Jesus never sought to be crowned king on this earth in the way that the multitude wanted of him? Here they were, sailing across the Sea of Galilee and caught in a strong wind that pushed the boat further from the shore. What were they to do without Jesus and did they not realize who He was? Did they not know he was escaping the crowd that wanted to make him king? That it was his purpose to join them after dark?
As they saw Jesus, they grew full of fear, trusting not in the Jesus who watched over them from the mountain, but in the earthly things, which was in front of them. Jesus knew and protected them, even when the disciples could not do so themselves.
So many times in our lives, we seek things that are based on earthly needs. The multitude sought a king to rule on earth, not a savior that could save them. The disciples did not understand what this meant and could not grasp that Jesus moved and talked with a greater purpose in mind.
Let us do the same. To look at God’s greater plan, the plan to save the Earth from sin and to come back one day as king. His purpose was to seek and save those who were lost, and that is one that we should focus on as well. Not to be fearful of Jesus doing mighty works and showing himself to us, but to embrace it and the power of His Spirit guiding us.