READ: John 6 (Focus vs. 5-15)
MEMORY VERSE
“Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” John 6:15
BACKGROUND
The 1957 war movie The Bridge on the River Kwai was so popular that fans flocked to Kanchanaburi in Thailand to look for the real-life iron bridge. They found the bridge, but it wasn’t on the Kwai—the movie got the river’s name wrong!
Soon, however, that part of the Mae Klong River was renamed Kwae Yai (Kwai) so it would align with people’s expectations.
Jesus never let the expectations of others cause Him to waver in His divine mission. People flocked to see Him because they heard of the signs and miracles He’d performed (John 6:2).
When they found Him and believed that He was the promised Messiah, they wanted Him as a military leader so He’d save them from Roman rule. John says, “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself” (v. 15).
Despite the pressure to rescue people the way they wanted, Christ resolutely followed God’s plan to rescue them the way they needed to be rescued (Colossians 1:13)—not from earthly troubles but from the power of “sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
Jesus’ unwavering will to provide what we need is why we can trust Him in all circumstances. When God’s ways don’t seem to align with our expectations, we can be assured that His plan is always better—because He doesn’t waver in His will to save us.
Jasmine Goh
INSIGHT
Jesus’ withdrawal to the mountain in John 6:3 preceded the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. This miracle would validate His later claim in John 6:35: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
It’s the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. John referred to Christ’s miracles as a “sign” (v. 14; Greek, sēmeion), which means the event was meant to point the people to a higher truth, declaring Jesus to be the great prophet Moses had predicted (Deuteronomy 18:15).
He provides what we need as we trust in Him.
Bill Crowder
APPLICATION
When have you felt that what God provided didn’t live up to your expectations? What helps you to trust Him?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“When God’s ways don’t seem to align with our expectations, we can be assured that His plan is always better—because He doesn’t waver in His will to save us.”
PR’s TAKE
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1Corinthians 15:58
“We give glory to God when we trust Him to do what He has promised to do – especially when ALL human possibilities are exhausted.” John Piper
PRAYER
“Dear God, because You’re steadfast and unwavering in Your will to save, I know I can trust You to do what’s best.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD?”
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.
It is safely moored; ’twill the storm withstand,
For ’tis well-secured by the Savior’s hand.
Though the tempest rage and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our boat o’erflow.
We have an anchor that keeps the soul…
When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night
The city of gold, our harbor bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.
