QT 29 Jun 12, It's not politics that has to change but our spirit

John 6:14-15,25-29 (NIV) After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

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25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"

26 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

NOTE: I know that it is natural to look for political solutions to the pain in our lives. The people of Jesus' time were no different than us. Jesus could provide food and therefore they wanted to make him king by force. What is missed in this passage is, that was the reason Jesus withdrew to the mountain. He did not want to be king. He was not interested in a political solution. He had his sights set upon something far greater, our eternal destiny. A political leader is a short term solution for a problem that can't be solved by short term solutions. Jesus knew that our problem was not the need for better political leaders, but rather an eternal solution. Someday Jesus will take a role in politics. In the millennial kingdom, Jesus will rule as no person has ever ruled before. There will be justice and peace. But today, our problem is not political, it is spiritual. The people asked what it would take to do the will of God, i.e., to perform spiritually. Jesus made it very simple, believe in the one he has sent, which was Jesus. In the church community, we spend far too much time telling people what political solution to believe, when the real solution is to believe in Jesus. How often have we told a friend about Jesus versus how often have we told a friend about our political ideas? What really is more important to us? For Jesus, it was clear--eternity was far more important than this temporal life.