The World’s Rejection, Christ’s Acceptance
The gift of the Father to the world(v.35)
The gift of Bread(35a) – Here is the first of the seven I AM’s of Jesus.
- I am the bread of life (6:35, 48, 51)
- I am the light of the world (8:12; 9:5)
- I am the door of the sheep (10:7, 10:9)
- I am the good shepherd (10:11, 14)
- I am the resurrection and the life (11:25 )
- I am the way, the truth, and the life (14:6)
- I am the true vine (15:1)
The greek verb to be, “ego eimi”, is a rare construct in the new testament, yet it appears in John’s gospel account every time Jesus says “I am.” It is the same verbal construction found in Exodus 3:14, in the greek Septuagint, where God declares of Himself: “I am who I am.
So when Christ says “I am the Bread of Life”, he is not merely using a metaphor to describe his work and purpose, but also to describe his nature, his deity. Therefore in that sense, the gift or offer of God(Father) to the world is God(Son) himself.
The nature of saving faith (35b-35c)
Take note of the parallelism between “coming to Jesus” in v. 35b and “believing in Jesus” in v. 35c. For the apostle John, these terms are interchangeable, both referring to a positive response to Jesus (see John 3:17-21). John’s use of ‘craving’ language denotes more than mental assent. It shows satisfaction in God himself, more specifically in Christ. Since coming to Christ for the satisfaction of our hunger and thirst is used interchangeably with believing, therefore it is oxymoron to say that you believe in Christ and at the same time he is not your soul’s satisfaction.
The world’s rejection of the gift of the Father(v.36)
• Their rejection through their motives (6:26)
• Their rejection through their self reliance (6:27-28)
• Their rejection through their hearts’ desires (6:31, 6:34)
It doesn’t take to be regenerated for us to desire the things that only God can provide, but it does so for us to desire God himself.
The gift of the Father to the Son (v.37)
God’s giving of the chosen ones to the Son
The first time I heard of the Gospel, it sounded like I’m very important to God. As if I’m intrinsically valuable and that he his even willing to send his Son to die for my own sake primarily. It never crossed my mind that it’s just secondary. It is just a means to an end, and not an end in of itself. I never thought that my salvation is but a tiny part of the emotional dynamics within the Trinity. The Father chose a gift, the Holy Spirit seals it, and the Son receives it, cleanse it, and will present it again to the Father. Oh how magnificent that is!
The giving of God grounds our coming to the Son.(v.37a – 37b)
• This implies that not all are given to Son because not all believed.
• But it also implies that no one who truly believes in Christ will be cast out because they are not chosen or given by the Father.
• If you are truly believing in Christ, you have been given first by the Father to the Son. (6:44-45, 6:65)
Christ receives and will keep the gift of the Father(v.37d-40)
Why would Christ not only will not cast out those who would truly believe but also kept them?
The answer to this question is our main point, and I would argue that this is the main point of Jesus’ ministry. Namely, the purpose of Christ in coming down from heaven. Jesus said in v.38 “for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent.” See also John 17:1-5, 5:30, 4:34
What is the will of the Father?
The Father’s will is that Christ will receive his own and keep them. Or another way to put it; those who are truly believing in Christ, will not only have eternal life now but also will be raised by him on the last day. And it’s all for the glory of God. See also John 3:16-17, 6:44-5, 17:9-26, Ephesians 1:11
One and the same
Those that were given by Father, those whom he draws, those who will come and believe, those who will be kept, and those who will be raised, are the same group. There are no dropouts! I won’t be surprised where Paul got his doctrine. See Romans 8:29-30
Application
- For the unbelieving. Do not wait for an insight from heaven if whether you are chosen, or have been given to Christ by the Father. See and taste that the Lord is good. Behold him, come to him, and believe on him now. And be assured that if you truly believe, he will not cast you out. The only way for you to know if you are one of his own is if you believe.
- For the believers. It doesn’t mean that when we came to Christ we will not crave again. We’re still going to crave but now we know where we should go to satisfy our soul’s aching and longing. And just as the Son’s food is to do the will of the Father, then so should we. The will of the Father for us is to magnify Christ by proclaiming him to world and be confident that it is the Triune God’s work and will that will be accomplished.
