"Thank you Heavenly Father...to allow us to send a message to all the tyrants, the communists, and the globalists that this is our nation not theirs...Thank you for filling this chamber with patriots that love you and that love Christ." As I listened to Jacob Chansley, also known as The Q Shaman, use a megaphone to speak these words in the U.S. Capitol, I felt ill. How could a violent riot that vandalized Congress, assaulted around 140 police officers, and killed five of them act in the name of Jesus?
John 6:1-15
After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). A huge crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near. So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, "Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?" He asked this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn't be enough for each of them to have a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There's a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish—but what are they for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place; so they sat down. The men numbered about five thousand. Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks he distributed them to those who were seated—so also with the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were full, he told his disciples, "Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted." So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world." Therefore, when 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.
I've usually heard this passage explained as a sweet, bubble gum reflection on how Jesus values children. But this story is reporting on the intense energy of a nearly violent mob. Passover reminded the Jews, who were harshly dominated by the occupying Romans, of when their God delivered his people from the oppression of Egypt into a land of their own. So the roads were filled with revolutionary hope, and these five thousand pilgrims were eager to find a Messiah to lead them into battle. And now, they've met a prophet who can feed his troops in the wilderness. To their eyes, Jesus looks like a new Moses. Every time there's a forecast of ice or snow, the city of Atlanta gets into a frenzy—grocery stores are emptied of milk, bread, and eggs. If we lost power for a week, sometimes I wonder if we wouldn't rally behind anyone who promised to get us food. Jesus and his small group of disciples are surrounded by a crowd of fifteen thousand men, women, and children, hungry for food and even hungrier for hope. They're feeling the hot breath, armpit stink, and shoulders pressing against them. It's the claustrophobic energy of a crowd that has decided Jesus will lead them to freedom. They were willing to die to put Jesus on the throne. But Jesus knew his coronation would take place on a cross. They wanted a king who conquers. But he came to be a king who dies. Jesus fed the crowd because they loved him. But because he loved them, he also had to withdraw when they asked him to lead a violent revolution.
What do you notice about how Jesus responds to each person in this story?
How have you seen others use the name of Jesus to justify attempts to gain power?
Where are you currently tempted to use the name of Jesus to get your own way?
Set a five-minute timer. Tell God: "I want to serve your purposes." As your agenda comes to mind, hand it over to him. When the timer ends, text a friend what you experienced.
Get a daily, five-minute Bible study to discuss with a friend.
121 friends have opened a study shared with them.
We were expecting a fabulous meal at the ski lodge's steakhouse. High ceilings, mahogany leather chairs, elega...
In the spring of 2009, a student I discipled, whom I'll call Rob, went on a missions trip to Honduras. Unfortu...
I once got incredibly angry at one of my roommates because he wrote a blog with what I considered bad theology...