You Are a King?

Gospel: John 6: 1-15

Jesus spends his entire public ministry engaged in four actions: healing people, delivering them from what possesses them, nourishing them, and avoiding the crowd.  Jesus performs these first three actions with no other motive than to heal, deliver, and nourish.  He does not seek nor does he want the adulation of the crowd or any titles, offices, or riches.  Here, as in other places, he deliberately runs from the crowd who would make him a king.

From the time of his temptation in the desert to his trial before Pilate, Jesus rejected the title of king applied to himself.  This, of course, did not stop us from making Jesus a king, for that is what we desire for ourselves.  While Jesus rejected crowds and their adulation and titles, we actively seek them.  Sure, we provided healing, deliverance, and nourishment to others, but these are a means to an end for ourselves, for we want the crowds, their power, and their money.  

Today's Gospel portion begins the Bread of Life discourse of Jesus, one that is about the total self-giving of Jesus that we ourselves are to do in remembrance of him.  We are to be self-emptying and self-giving as Jesus was, not seeking any honors, advantage, or power.  Will we today seek to imitate the Lord - to heal, deliver, and nourish others - and avoid the crowd, its power, and titles?