King Jesus

Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. John 6:15 (RSV)

The Powerball Lottery has reached around one half-billion dollars. Even after taxes, that would be a significant amount of money. A person could cut back on work if you had that kind of cash suddenly in your bank account.

You also would have a crowd of relatives you never knew you had. There would people coming to 'help' you invest your new found wealth. The phone would ring more than it did when you are warned about the car's warranty running out. A bevy of new friends would drop by to get better acquainted.

A sensible person would know that the majority of these folk wouldn't have given you the time of day the hour before you won. The allure of getting a cut of your winnings draws them like flies to a spoonful of honey.

Jesus fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes. They are ready to make Him King Jesus the First, ruler of Israel. The crowd's adulation grows more from grain and fish. They would offer the crown to the next guy down the road if he gave them lunch. They love Jesus for what they can get from Him.

When I was a young Christian, I was asked why I believed in Jesus. "I don't want to go to hell," was my response. It was an honest response. It is a response that many people would offer if asked.

It is true, Jesus saves us from sin, death, and the power of the devil. He descended into hell so all who would be enslaved there could rise with Him. He keeps me from hell.

I am grateful that this is so, but I have learned to love Jesus because He is Jesus. He is the Father's Son, the Father's love made flesh, come to give mercy and love beyond understanding. One discovers that it is the love of Jesus that is the purpose of life. Living each day enfolded in His love, learning to love as He has loved, is more than enough.

The joy of God's love through Jesus is all anyone needs. Wrapped in this love, we have no care for anything beyond His love. He loves us because we are and have been made lovely by the Father's mercy. We love Him in return, for He is worthy of our love.