John 6:41-45

November 24, 2013 We return to the conversation between Jesus and the Jewish crowd. He performed a miracle in feeding them and now they want to make Him king. But thats because of their earthly mindset; they accept Him in some things but not as the Son of God. Not in the heavenly things. We have to be very careful with these verses because we arent proof-texting and this isnt a message about the Doctrines of Grace. Thats not to say that these verses dont support those doctrines but the immediate context is somewhat different. Jesus claims to be from heaven and: The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? If John were written in our time the people wouldnt have rejected the idea that He came from heaven; they would have been flustered over the whole of all which He has given me I shall lose nothing thing. But these are Jews and their used to thinking of themselves as the elect nation and chosen people of God. Of course none of them will be left out! But they have a different problem, dont they? They think Jewishness and priests and sacrifices are what please God. Hes already told them Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Its not the earthly things which please God, but instead those earthly things point towards Him. But they dont understand what He means; We know Joseph and hes not from heaven. How can Jesus say hes from heaven when we can so clearly see that Hes not?
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Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. First of all, theyre murmuring. That should come as no surprise, should it? Isnt that just what their ancestors in the wilderness did? These people want manna from heaven just like their fathers had and they murmur just the same.

But His answer seems so detached from the conversation. What does He mean? Why does He answer this way? Keep the context: they think they know His Father. They also think they have access to God through the priests and the temple. They think eternal life comes from Jewishness and Jewish practices. But Jesus refuses them all this. He is the Bread of Life; its not about manna. He is the great High Priest; its not about Aaron. He is the access to God; its not about a building. Go back and read verses 36-39: But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. See how its all tied together? Life cannot be separated from the Son and the Son cannot be separated from the Fatherthe Father which has sent the Son! Imagine how it makes the Jews reel to be told that no man can come. He actually says, No man has power to come to God. No man is able to come to Him. To draw means to hoist or pull. Its literally that men cannot get to God. Life does not come through keeping the Law! The only way to the Father is through the Son and the only way to the Son is through the Father. This is why He says whats next:
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It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. 11O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. (Is 54.10-13). The all in John 6 is defined in Isaiah 54: they are the children of God and they are taught by Him. God has had a plan from the beginning to save all His children.

Many will not come because they are not drawn but all His children are guaranteed to come. God will reveal the promises to them. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4When he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers (Jn. 10:4-5). Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:1-17). The bottom line here is that all our hope is in Christ and Christ alone. There is no amount of law-keeping that can secure righteousness. Every one of His children will hear His voice and be saved: Believe on Me and live. newgracebaptistchurch.wordpress.com