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Commentaries
English
John
  
2. Jesus withdraws from the clamor for his crowning
(John 6:14-15)
14When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!"15Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the hills by himself.


Jesus came to the world to win over mankind. After his feeding of the five thousand, people gathered round him eagerly. They clapped and danced to do homage for him as king. They realized that this Galilean was God’s man; God’s voice spoke through him, and the power of the Highest was magnified in him. Nature obeyed him. He had given them bread as Moses did in the wilderness. He was the promised prophet to lead a despised race into truth (Deuteronomy 18:15). They also thought that if Jesus became their king, they would not need to work or tire in the future. "We shall have time to study Scripture and pray, and he will give us food freely. Such a king would be powerful enough to defeat Roman armies. He may even bring down from heaven fire that would consume them. So let us crown him and proclaim him king." They all as one approached him to bear him on their shoulders. They would support him, in the hope that he would support them with the needed sustenance.
What was Jesus’ stand towards this popular movement? Did he rejoice at the rising in progress or thank them for their trust in him? Did he succumb to the temptation and build his Kingdom with the help of unbelievers? Or did he repel their plans? No, he did not say a word, but withdrew into the wilderness. He did not wish to be borne by men, he was content for God to uphold him. Jesus knew the state of these enthusiasts; drunk with ecstasy they were unable to listen to his advice. This was a political union fused together in one idea.
Jesus, had no wish to build an earthly kingdom, but rather to lead people one by one to repentance and rebirth. No one can enter the Kingdom save by second birth. The crowds failed to grasp the aim of the miracles and signs. They thought of earthly bread; he spoke of the Holy Spirit to satisfy a deeper hunger. They meant earthly dominion and fading glory; he chose the cross as the basis of his Kingdom. Without repentance and a second birth you cannot enjoy the welcome of Christ.
Jesus did not need to homage of the multitude. He did not accept the glory of men, but listened to his Father’s voice. He shut his heart to Satan’s temptation. He withdrew to pray, to thank the Father and plead that the eyes of the blind might be opened by the Spirit. He could not consent to be crowned by men, knowing that they would cry ‘Hosanna’ one day, and ‘crucify him’ the next. Christ knows our hearts, and is never led astray.