7/09/25 The Temptation to Tame Jesus

Takeaway: We don’t truly follow Jesus until we stop trying to tame Him.

Opening Prayer (Wednesday)

Father, in the middle of this week, I lean on You for strength. When I am weary, be my rest. When I am uncertain, be my guide. Refresh my soul as I draw near to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection

There is a deep and ancient temptation within the human heart: the desire to tame the mystery of God. In John 6, this temptation comes sharply into focus. After Jesus feeds the five thousand, the crowd is amazed, not just by the miracle, but by what it could mean for them. In one breath they get it right, declaring Jesus is the one they all have waited for. But their next move revealed their motive. They wanted to make Him king, by force if necessary. They see in Jesus not a Savior to follow, but a figure to use to accomplish their nationalistic or personal dreams. Jesus knows their hearts, and instead of letting them He withdrew. They wanted to crown Him, but He walked away. They wanted a king who will reign on their terms, not a Messiah who reigns through self sacrifice.

This moment is not just a first-century issue; it’s a mirror into our motives, as well. We, too, try to tame Jesus. We love the idea of a Jesus who multiplies bread, but stumble when He multiplies the demands on our lives. We’re drawn to His power but shrink back from His call to follow Him. Like the crowd, we often come to Jesus with unspoken agendas. We want Him to bless our ambitions, fix our relationships, align with our politics, and give us peace without the pain of transformation. But Jesus resists every attempt to be used. He will not be made king on our terms. He will not serve as the mascot to our causes. He is Lord, or He is nothing at all to us.

Later in the chapter, when Jesus begins to teach about the true meaning of the miracle, how He is the Bread of Life, and we are called to eat His flesh and drink His blood, the crowd recoils. “This teaching is too difficult,” they said. And many of His disciples walked away. It’s a haunting image. The same crowd that was ready to crown Him king now leaves Him behind, unwilling to accept a Jesus they cannot control.

This passage confronts us with a question: Do we follow Jesus because we believe He is the Son of God, the Lord of life? Or do we follow a tamed version of Jesus, one who conveniently fits into the shape of our preferences and plans? The real Jesus doesn’t come to support our dreams but to transform them. He doesn’t serve our goals but calls us into His Kingdom. This is hard. But it’s also freeing. Only the wild, untamable, crucified and risen Christ can truly give life. And only when we stop trying to tame Him do we begin to truly follow Him.

Questions

Where in your life are you most tempted to “tame” Jesus, to fit Him into your expectations?

What are some personal ambitions or desires you’ve asked Jesus to bless, without asking whether they align with His Kingdom?

Application

Try practicing a posture of open-handedness, daily praying: “Lord, not my will, but Yours be done.” Consider reading John 6 in its entirety, slowly and prayerfully, listening for where the Spirit might be asking you to release control and trust Jesus more deeply, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive me for the ways I try to shape You into something safe, convenient, and useful. I confess that I often want a Savior who serves my plans, rather than a Lord who calls me to follow. Teach me to trust You as You truly are. Give me grace not to walk away when Your ways challenge me, but to lean in with faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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