May 11

One-Year Bible Notes

Read / Listen
1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
John 6:43-71
Psalm 107:1-43
Proverbs 15:1-3

New Testament

John 6:43-71

Summary

I Am the Bread of Life, The Words of Eternal Life

And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” ~ John 6:65

Does Jesus mean that only certain people can come to him, that the Father somehow gives some folks some special means to come to him? And if that is the case, what about everyone else, those who do not receive this special enabling? Are some people specially called and some simply left out?

If you remember, this passage started with the people wanting bread and Jesus telling them he was the bread that comes down from heaven. One commentator pointed out that God enabled every human being with the ability to feel hunger. That growling in our stomach pushes us to find something to eat. There are certain times and cases when a person has no hunger, they refuse to eat. And if you don’t eat long enough, the result is death. In the same way, each human has a God given desire for the truth, for satisfaction, for connection with God. People may reject their spiritual hunger, or they try to replace the bread of life, Jesus, with some other kind of thing, but it will leave them always hungry, malnourished and will eventually lead them to death. Over and over in the gospels, we read Jesus inviting everyone to follow him.

Jesus later says in John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up, will draw all men to myself.” The being lifted up refers to his death on the cross. Jesus makes it plain here when he dies for humanity, he will be drawing everyone to himself. It is in the death of Christ that all men are enabled, drawn, invited to a saving relationship with God through his Son Jesus. God has already done the work, he has already made the way, we simply need to take him up on the offer, to accept it.

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