I Need Jesus – August 7, 2021

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

I Need Jesus

Jesus had just fed more than five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two small fish. One can only marvel at Jesus’ power to feed so many people with such limited resources. It almost makes you think, “What if Jesus could do this every day?” Worldwide hunger could become a thing of the past. Next, sickness and homelessness could be eliminated.

It all sounds good, but is this why Jesus came? There were those who would have been happy to have Jesus just take care of them. Feed me. Make life easier for me. Be my king, and make my life free from effort, sacrifice, and problems.

It is tempting to make Jesus into a “bread-king” and have every want and desire filled. But what about my real needs? Who would respond to my need for forgiveness? Who would resolve my natural animosity toward God? Who would give me hope in the face of sickness and death? I need Jesus to be the Savior God sent him to be.

This is why Jesus came. He came to live for me, bleed for me, die for me, and rise for me. He came to answer my greatest need. He came to conquer my greatest fear.

It is easy to confuse what I want Jesus to be with what I need Jesus to be. When I am uncertain, I need to look to the cross. There I can see Jesus, the Savior I truly need.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for being the kind of king I truly need. Amen.