Consider the dilemma of authority from the point of view of this world’s leaders. For example, Herod means “hero like.” History shows Herod desired to be known as a great benefactor of the people and other leaders. Most civil authorities today would desire the same thing. Think about the campaign promises made by politicians today. Perhaps some wouldn’t want to put forth the effort, but all would like to leave behind a legacy that would show they were wonderful at what they did (cp. Genesis 6:4). Imagine Herod finding out he wouldn’t have any influence in God’s Kingdom, or that his reign would last only as long as it suited God. Why would he submit to the Gospel or influence his world for Christ? Herod was suspicious of the followers of Jesus, and so are the authorities of this world. They don’t understand our behavior or our words. They would prefer that we would behave like everyone else in the world. How can the governments of this world deal with people who claim allegiance to an unseen authority, an unknown authority, or an authority not of this world? They cannot, and therein lay their fear and suspicion of us.
Knowing this, what was Christ’s purpose in sending the twelve to preach in the towns of Galilee? Was he interested in making himself known to Herod (Mark 6:7-16)? If so, why didn’t he speak with Herod when the Romans brought him in chains to the tetrarch about two years later (Luke 23:7-9)? The authorities of this world have no power in the Kingdom of God. Their power is impotent to aid or hinder the advance of the Christ.
Was Jesus’ purpose to heal many people and cast out demons in order to create a great following? If so, why did he avoid the people and go into the mountain to be alone and pray (John 6:15)? Why did he publicly send the apostles out to sea (Matthew 14:22) and secretly join them later (Mark 6:46-52)? If Jesus was looking to create a great following, he certainly did not behave like it.
I believe the answer is addressed in John’s ‘discourse’ in John 6:25-59. Immediately after the feeding of the 5000, the people searched for Jesus and found him in Capernaum. Jesus began to teach them by saying that the reason they had searched for him was not because of a miracle, but because they found that he satisfied their inner hunger (John 6:26; cp. Romans 8:19-23). Jesus spoke of an inner life over which he is Lord (John 6:27-29), but the people asked for a sign. The contrast here is obvious. Jesus is speaking of the inner life, while those who are listening and asking for signs were cognizant of only an outer life, which they could see, hear, touch, taste and smell. These are the five gates for information over which we are lords! Jesus, however, spoke of another gate (cp. John 10:1-10) over which he alone is Lord. This gate is not one through which crowds may enter. It’s a narrow gate and admits only a one on One relationship.
John 6:25-59 represents not one discourse but a series of teaching sessions that Jesus gave at the synagogue at Capernaum (John 6:59). In the intervening sessions he healed at Gennesaret (Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56), ministered in Tyre and Sidon (Mark 7:24-30), healed and fed 4000 at the Decapolis (Matthew 14:29-39; Mark 7:31-37; Mark 8:1-10), and preached at Dalmanatha in Magdala (cp. Matthew 15:39-16:1-12 with Mark 8:10-26). The theme is the same in all. Jesus said that he alone is able to satisfy man’s inner hunger (John 6:35-40). Elsewhere, he taught that man’s inner life is already defiled and cannot be cured using outside methods (Matthew 15:1-14; Mark 7:1-13). The healing of the gentile woman’s daughter was an inner healing (Mark 7:29-30); the 4000 were fed and their inner hunger was satisfied. Throughout it all, the Pharisees, representing religious leaders of any age, were cognizant only of an outer realm and continually asked for a sign (Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-13; cp. John 6:30). Jesus pointed to the Scriptures that spoke of himself (John 6:45) and said that inner life comes only by him (John 6:53-58), but no one understood (John 6:52, 60).
The Pharisees were offended in his teaching (Matthew 15:12) and so were the people who all their lives had been taught by this religious sect (John 6:61, 66). Jesus told the twelve to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (religious authorities) and of Herod (political authority – cp. Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:14-21). The disciples did not understand at first, but after Jesus rebuked them, they realized that he spoke of their teaching. Jesus taught the apostles about the effect of authority upon man. Those to whom we yield ourselves as servants to believe and obey are the authorities in our lives (Romans 6:16). In other words, whoever fills my life is my authority. Whoever or whatever is the reason I get up in the morning fills my thoughts throughout the day and is the final thought I have before drifting off to sleep is my authority. Lord, give us eyes to see.
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