Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. (John 6:15, NKJV)
Those who saw Jesus miraculously feed the multitude with five loaves and two small fish deduced from this sign that Jesus “is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world” (Jno. 6:14). But, they misunderstood the nature of the Messiah and His kingdom, supposing they could forcibly make Jesus king. Jesus removed Himself from their grasp, for His kingdom is “not of this world” (Jno. 18:36). It is truly sad that so many think Jesus will return to the earth in the future to be enthroned as king, when He has already rejected being made that sort of king. His kingdom is spiritual in nature (Lk. 17:20-21). His reign was announced and His kingdom began to be populated when His gospel was preached on the Pentecost following His resurrection (Mk. 9:1; Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 36-41). The Messiah’s kingdom exists today; it is His church (Matt. 16:18-19). Instead of looking for a physical kingdom yet to be secured, the gospel proclaims that Christians compose the kingdom (Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:6, 9). “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:28).
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