John 6:15 - Retreat into the mountains

Robin and I love the mountains. We somewhat joke about it saying, you can simplify people into two categories. There are beach people, and then there are mountain people. We are mountain people. My gosh, who wants sand trapped into every possible spot on your body, so frustrating. 

The mountains for us are a retreat, a solitary and peaceful place where the hurry of life slows down, where schedules are abolished, and where the beauty and the presence of God is all around. So, when I come across John 6:5, I lean in and pay close attention. 

“Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭6:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This verse comes right after Jesus' miracle of feeding the thousands. Jesus took the few hamburger buns and fish sticks and feeds thousands and thousands of people, and has leftovers. The people were amazed and said: “Surely, this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 

What got my attention in the verse was Jesus withdrawing to the mountains. But, let’s unpack a little more in this, I see something connected that needs to be another take away for me. 

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force... these people were amazed, and shocked and wanted to celebrate Jesus. Think about this, and personalize it. Maybe you just closed a huge deal for the company, or you solved a major issue at work, performed with excellence a complicated surgery, or whatever and the organization, neighborhood or hospital wants to celebrate you and your achievement. This honor and praise would feel good, and all the emotions would be running in high gear. My guess is, this is what the disciples were feeling. Pride was rising, energy levels moving up, and the beginning of worldly enthusiasm was creeping in. But here’s the deal, Jesus wanted nothing to do with this seduction. Jesus wasn’t impressed that the crowds were impressed; Jesus was on a mission and was not going to get caught up in the worldly enthusiasm. Jesus retreated, alone. 

In this passage of Scripture, it does not say what Jesus did in the mountains by himself. But we can look at other passages, and make some conclusions. My conclusions of what Jesus did are very similar to what I wrote about earlier for Robin and I. The mountains for us are a retreat, a solitary and peaceful place where the hurry of life slows down, where schedules are abolished, and where the beauty and the presence of God is all around. Jesus withdrew from the crowds who wanted to celebrate Him so he could spend some time with his Father, God, and enjoy and be filled and fueled for his mission. 

You see, Jesus knew that the worldly praise that was coming from the crowds would bring no real fuel for his soul, so he retreated and withdrew to spend time with the Father, the only one who can truly fill our soul. So, as I process this and think about these few words in this verse, I am left with this reminder; the things of this world can not truly fill our soul, only our Heavenly Father can. The boat, the new house, the likes on Instagram, the praise at the office, or in the game...the only way to truly fill our soul with fuel and to be filled with life is given by God himself. We must take the appropriate time, retreat into the mountains if we must...but getaway, alone with Jesus, and seek to be filled and fueled for this thing called life.