Apr 18, 2021
Scripture Reading: John 6:30-40
There are many mysteries which rise from the pages of the Bible … wonderful mysteries. How could it be otherwise when the Bible reveals the infinite God to our very finite minds? The eternal existence of God is a mystery to us. The triune nature of God is a mystery to us … as is the union of divinity and humanity in the person of Jesus.
In today's passage we are met with the mystery of the compatibility of human responsibility and divine sovereignty with regards to salvation. Human responsibility is on display in John 6:30-36 and God's sovereignty is on display in John 6:37-40.
Jesus had shown these Israelites His power and had taught them about Himself and about the kingdom of God, but their response was to reject Him. "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe" (Jn 6:35,36). Christ held these people responsible for their unbelief. They had seen … they had heard … and they had refused to come to Jesus.
There is, however, another group in view in this passage … namely, people whom God the Father has given to His Son. "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. . . . And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day" (Jn 6:37,39).
God has insured that the work of Jesus in redemption would not be in vain. There are wondrous declarations in these verses. God has given some people to the Son … and all those people come to the Son … and the Son keeps them … and raises them up on the last day. This is God's sovereign rule over His design of redemption. His purposes do not fail (cf. Isa 46:9,10).