Jesus Withdrew From This Political Situation You Can Also Withdraw

John 6:15 – Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.(NIV)

John 6:15  Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab him and make him king, so he slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by himself. (Message Bible)

Politics is a struggle towards gaining power in order to control decisions and consequently resources of an organization or government. All activities that contribute towards power acquisition are politics. We can engage in politics so that we gain power. We can engage in politics to install a favorable person in power. We can engage in politics to remove someone from power. It’s all about power.

When we have power to influence decisions and consequently the use resources, we can use it to make life better for ourselves and those we care for. Bad politics is selfish politics where you seek to benefit without caring about others. Bad politics is also use of deceit in order to gain power. Bad politics is also violent and May even include military force aka coup.

We have a few isolated politicians who have gained power and used it to help the masses. We have a few politicians who have refused to use power for personal benefit or that of people only close to them. These politicians are celebrated. That tells us that not all politicians are bad people.

The problem with politics is that it is mostly self centered. It’s a competition that seeks to win and deny losers comfort. The other problem with politics is that it is focused on power and power alone. That focus on power May tempt politicians to use unbiblical and unchristian means to gain power.

Politicians engage in the daily wrestling for power against each other. Daily they seek to shift circumstances in a manner that will make them more likely gain power. Daily they haunt each other, attack each other, criticize each other and seek the failure of their opponents.

Government on the other hand is management of power. Government manages power and use of resources. When politicians gain power, they form government. Working in government is not the same as being a politician.

Acts 1:6 – Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Matthew 20:20 – Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

Matthew 20:21 – “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

The disciples of Jesus knew He is the Messiah. They thought Jesus would soon gain power and form government. That is why up-to the time of His ascension they were asking whether He is now about to take power and form government. That is why James and John were booking spaces in government, by lobbying through their mother. That lobbying is politics, it’s a struggle to gain power over other disciples. That is why other disciples were offended at their political schemes.

Evangelism is not politics. The government of God is secure and established. The government of God doesn’t need political push and pull to sustain it. Evangelism is sharing good news that this stable unshakable government has room for all of us. Evangelism is announcing to the world that opposition against God will fail and opposers will die permanently. That is what is also known as The Three Angels Message, Revelation 14:6-12.

John 6:15 – Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.(NIV)

In our main text today, we are told, Jesus withdrew from a political situation. He had just fed five thousand men plus many women and children. The people were well fed and excited. They decided to give Jesus power to form government. They wanted to make Him king. So that He can continue providing for them. Resources are at the hurt of power pursuit. Politics is about power to control resources.

Jesus had resources they needed, bread and fish. They wanted to control that resource by making Jesus King so that He continues to provide for them. Their attempt to force Jesus to be King was therefore politics. Jesus withdrew from that political situation and we too can withdraw.

Jesus withdrew because if they made Him King, He would be indebted to them and with that they would control Him. Jesus avoided politics where you are not controlled by principles and God’s will. Jesus avoided politics where you are controlled by a person or people who gave you power. Jesus withdrew from this political situation and we can also withdraw!

Jesus withdrew because the politics conflicted His core mission. He came to die for us and not to lead earthly government. Jesus withdrew from politics that negatively affect the Christian mission. Jesus withdrew from this political situation and we can also withdraw!

Jesus withdrew because politics can be selfish, self centered, divisive and lacking humility and full of hypocrisy. These traits that some politicians have in order to survive are not traits that a child of God should exhibit. Therefore since such was politics, He withdrew. Jesus withdrew from this political situation and we can also withdraw!

We can withdraw from bad politics anywhere and everywhere. We can avoid politics in church. Church resources should never be used for personal gain, therefore we don’t need to struggle to control it. Jesus withdrew from this political situation and we can also withdraw!

Dear God, save me from politics and politicians. Give me courage to withdraw as You withdrew. In Jesus’s name, Amen!

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