After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
John 6:14-15 NIV
There’s something profoundly striking about this passage in John’s Gospel. The crowd had just witnessed an extraordinary miracle—the feeding of the five thousand. Their immediate response seemed commendable. They recognised that what Jesus had done was no ordinary act. They acknowledged Jesus, declaring, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
At first glance, it appears as though they understood. However, as we look more closely, a deeper issue emerges.
The people saw the miracle, but they missed the message. They recognised the sign, but not the Saviour. They rightly perceived that Jesus was sent from God, yet their interpretation of His mission was filtered through their own expectations. Instead of allowing the miracle to lead them into a deeper understanding of God’s redemptive plan, they tried to fit Jesus into a mould of their own design, the Prophet.
They intended to make Him king by force. This was not the kingship that Jesus had come to fulfil. He had not come to sit on an earthly throne, satisfying political aspirations or national pride. He came as the Lamb of God, the suffering Servant, the High Priest who would offer Himself for the salvation of the world.
Their Scriptures had foretold the coming of the Prophet like Moses, but nowhere did it suggest that He would be crowned king through public demand. Their recognition of Jesus was shallow. They saw His power but failed to understand His purpose. They wanted a king to conquer Rome, not a Saviour to conquer sin. Also, they were fascinated by the supernatural but blind to the spiritual. They honoured Him with their words, yet missed the true nature of His calling.
Sadly, this pattern is not unfamiliar. Many today make the same mistake. We witness God’s hand in our lives—answers to prayer, moments of breakthrough, divine provision—and we rightly celebrate them. Yet how often do we stop to ask what these signs are pointing to? Are we seeking God’s hand more than His face? Have we become so focused on what He can do for us that we fail to surrender to what He desires to do in us?
Jesus withdrew because He would not allow the crowd to define His mission. He refused to be made king on their terms. His lordship is not subject to our preferences. If He is to reign, it must be according to God’s will, not our agenda. We must receive Jesus not only as the Prophet or the miracle-worker but as the One who demands our full allegiance.
They saw His kingship but missed His priesthood. They admired the sign but ignored its significance. Unfortunately, they celebrated the Prophet but overlooked the Son.
And so the question comes to you: are you doing the same? Are you declaring Jesus as King with your lips while resisting His rule in your life? Are you caught up in the wonder of His works while remaining disconnected from the weight of His words? Have you mistaken the symbol for the substance?
True faith recognises the Saviour behind the sign. It bows not only in moments of blessing but in seasons of obedience and surrender. It worships not for what Jesus can give, but for who He truly is—Lord, Redeemer, and King.
Living It Out
In this hour, God is calling us beyond surface-level faith. He is inviting us into deeper discernment and wholehearted surrender. Don’t stop at the sign—press in to see the Saviour. Let the miracles lead you not merely to thanksgiving, but to transformation.
Ask yourself today: Am I trying to make Jesus king on my own terms, or am I submitting to His kingship with my whole heart?
Surrender your expectations. Invite Jesus to reign not only over your circumstances but over your character, your choices, and your calling.
Let us not repeat the error of those who saw the sign yet missed the Saviour. Instead, let’s be among those who see, believe, and follow fully and faithfully.
May Jesus be more than a name we profess. May He be the King we obey.