Studies in John 6, Part 2

Drawn By the Father
Studies in John 6:1-51, Part 2

The signs Jesus worked were for the purpose of producing faith – of turning unbelievers into believers (cf., John 20:30-31). Though the Jews witnessed many wonderful works, they continued in their unbelief (John 6:36). Yes, they had sought after him but not because of the testimony of the signs, but because “they ate of the loaves and were filled” (vs. 26). The signs (especially the feeding of the 5,000) suggested they could use Jesus to secure their earthly situation. They were materialists – their minds were set on this life and they sought Jesus not as disciples who desire to imitate their teacher in word and deed, but because they saw in him one who could supply their earthly needs.

In an attempt to elevate their sights Jesus spoke to them about bread which endures to eternal life, about bread which gives life to the world. This bread was his to give, but only to those who worked for it – who “believe in Him” (vss. 27, 29). When they finally asked for this bread Jesus told them: (vs. 35) “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” But then he immediately says they could neither eat nor drink because they did not believe (vs. 36)

Jesus then says: (vs. 37a) “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me ….” This will be explained later in the discourse (vss. 44-46). However this much seems clear: Those coming to Jesus have been given to him by the Father. They are given before they come.

Regarding those who come, Jesus says: (vs. 37b) “… I will certainly not cast [them] out.” This will not happen because he came not to do his own will, but the will of the Father (vs. 38). The will of the Father is this: (vs. 39) “… that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.” In verse 40 Jesus reiterates this and he explains what coming to the Son means. “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” In this context the expression beholds the Son is more than merely looking at him. These people had seen Jesus, but they had not really seen him, they had seen his signs but they had not reflected upon their significance. Leon Morris, quotes R.F. Bailey who argues that the Greek theōrōn (beholds) should be rendered “contemplateth.” He maintains that theōrōn “‘implies not mere vision but grasping the significance of a thing, and so is the precursor of faith.’” (Morris, 369) This, then, is what it means to come to Jesus: to behold him – to grasp the significance of his words and works – and then to believe in Him on account of it. Such people, says the Lord, “will have eternal life, and … I will raise [them] up on the last day.”¹

This assurance is meant to encourage his audience to take a closer look at him and to make coming to him appealing. But they would not be moved. These people were not interested in “words of eternal life” (vs. 68) but in temporal things, things of this world. Having their thinking bound by earthly interests they murmured about his words: (vs. 43) “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” Their earthbound thinking did not allow them to hear or see the Father’s testimony. Jesus tells them to stop their grumbling. How can they learn divine truth in such a condition? If they cannot learn they cannot come!

Earlier Jesus said: (vs. 37a) “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me.” In verses 44-45 this is now repeated and explained: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”

Who will Jesus raise on the last day? All who come to him? But how shall they come to him? No one can come “unless the Father … draws him.” How are they drawn? They are drawn by teaching: (vs. 45) “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’” But the men who were listening would not be taught! This was their problem! They heard his words, but they would not learn. “It is not enough to hear God's voice. He must heed it and learn it and do it” (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures of the New Testament: vol. 5, 109). The individual who does this will come to Jesus. Not some of the time, not most of the time, but all of the time (White, 55).

All the Father gives to the Son shall come to him (vs. 37a). But who are these individuals but all who hear from the Father and learn from Him. These are the ones the Father gives to Jesus. No others are given and no others shall be allowed to come.

How does the God teach them? Jesus says that no one has seen the Father (vs. 46a). This teaching, therefore, is not done in person. How then is it done? Jesus says: no one “seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.” The implication is that God teaches men through Jesus, who is from the Father and has seen Him.

This is not the first time in John’s gospel that we run across this idea. In his prologue, for example, he wrote: (John 1:18 ) “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”² Jesus explains God. Through him men learn about the Father – who He is and what He requires. Through him one is taught of God hearing the words of God (vss 31-32, 34).

Throughout his earthly ministry Jesus argued that his words (teaching) and works were derived directly from the Father and adequate in leading men to believe in him (Harold Fowler, The Gospel of Matthew, vol 3, 492). In John 5:31-36 he argued:

If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish--the very works that I do--testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

In John 14 he said:

(vss. 10-11) Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

Through the message Jesus spoke and miracles he worked the Father was testifying – teaching the people (cf., John 10:25). His words and works were adequate in producing faith in those who heard and saw. Otherwise, how could Jesus have said that they would be held accountable for their unbelief?

(John 15:22-24) "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.”

The words and works that Jesus performed were adequate in producing faith in those who heard and saw. Through the message and miracles that Jesus worked God taught the people. The individual who rejects Jesus, in reality rejects the Father. Just my opinion? Listen to Jesus:

(John 12:44-45) … He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. … If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.

All who are drawn by the Father are taught by Him through Jesus. To reject the teaching of Jesus is to reject the teaching of the Father. The Father gives those who hear and learn His teaching to Jesus; they will come to him and those who come – who believe – have eternal life.

Though they were resisting, Jesus wanted these Jews to come to him to have eternal life. They desperately needed the bread that was his to give, but they grumbled when he served it. They could not stomach the food that was intended to nourish their souls. But Jesus did not change the menu to keep them there. “If they wanted to eat from his hand, they had to hunger for the true and enduring grain” (Plain Talk, Vol. 7, No. 6 , August, 1970, Jim R. Everett, “My Soul Loatheth Fodder,” 3)

In vs. 47-51 he gives further clarification – further teaching from the Father concerning the “bread of life” metaphor. “At the beginning (vss. 47-48) Jesus combines reality (47) and figure (48), and thus again explains (as in 35 & 40) how one ‘eats’ of him” (Mott, 56) – by believing in him.

Jesus then speaks of the superiority of his bread to the “the manna in the wilderness” that so enamored the Jews. This was the bread they compared all other bread to, but it was deficient. Those who ate it died; every last one of them. But the bread Jesus gives is different. It gives life eternal to those who eat it (vs. 51a). In the latter part of vs. 51 Jesus attempts to take them “to the next stage of understanding with additional clarification of “the bread of life” (Mott, 57). He says: “and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” This metaphor proved too much for these Jews who judged by carnal standards, who would not allow the Father to teach them. They were offended by these words and later they would be even more offended when he said they must eat his flesh and drink his blood or they would never have eternal life (vs. 53). They would say: (vs. 60) “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” As a result of his words “many of his disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (vs. 66).

Jesus said: (vs 51b) … the bread also which I give for the life of the world is My flesh.” To those of us who live on this side of the cross Jesus’ meaning should be clear: He was speaking about his sacrifice on the cross. Like the figure, the reality is offensive (cf., 1 Corinthians 1:18-25) to men who are prepared to judge by carnal standards. It makes no sense, it is foolishness. But this is what God has placed on the table, there is no other food! There is no other way to receive eternal life but through faith in the crucified Jesus (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Since the return of Jesus to heaven God draws men to him through the gospel of the crucified Lamb of God. Of this gospel Paul wrote: (Romans 1:16) “… it is the power of God for salvation….” “If man is ever saved, God must save him; and if God saves a man, he will do it with saving power. Think of the many manifestations of God’s power … in the physical world. We call them ‘laws of nature,’ but they are simply various powers of God. But God does not use these physical powers to save man. … [Always] remember that each power has its own sphere of operation, its one end to serve, and you will never make the mistake of thinking that God will save a person any way except through his saving power. That power is the gospel. If we do not let him save us by the gospel, we are doomed.” (R.L. Whiteside, Doctrinal Discourses, 75) For in the gospel, says Paul as we finish reading Romans 1:16, in this gospel “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to (lit. in order to) faith. In other words, the gospel reveals that God justifies – forgives – the sinner by faith in order to produce faith in the sinner.

How does God declare a sinner righteous – forgiven – through faith? When that sinner turns from his sins in repentance and is baptized. For when believers asked what they must do to be saved (Acts 2:36) Peter said: (vs. 38) “"Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Won’t you receive the word (the teaching) of God so that you will be saved? Won’t you be baptized? For the scriptures says: (vs. 42) “So then, those who received the word were baptized; and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.” Have you been baptized? If not, then you have yet to receive the word.

1 So that there will be no misunderstanding, beholds the Son and believes in Him are present participles indicating on going action. Those, therefore, who have beheld the Son in the past but who do not continue to behold him and those who have believed in him in the past but who do not continued to believe “cannot put a claim on Christ for eternal life” (White, 61). The very idea that it could be otherwise is absurd.

2 The Greek word translated explained is from the same root exegesis is derived from. John is saying that Jesus is the exegesis of the Father.

Studies in John 6

Drawn By the Father

Studies in John 6:1-51, Part 1

The feeding of the 5,000 was just one more occasion where God testified to the Jews that Jesus is the one “of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote.” As a result of this testimony the people said: (John 6:14) “This is truly the Prophet which is to come into the world.”

The Jews were already fiercely nationalistic. With the preaching of John and Jesus that “the kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:14-15) these nationalistic aspirations were inflamed. “Doubtless many of the people who saw the miracle felt that here was a divinely accredited leader, who was just the person to lead them against the Romans” (Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John, 346). The people were prepared to “take Him by force to make Him king” (vs. 15). “Like many others since, they wanted to use Him to further their own needs. But to Jesus the prospect of an earthly kingdom was nothing else than a temptation of the devil,” (Morris, 346) which he resisted on this occasion by dismissing the multitude and withdrawing into the mountain until he was alone (John 6:15; cf., Matthew 14:23-24).

But the multitudes would not be put off so easily! On the next day, after discovering he was no longer on their side of the lake they came to Capernaum seeking him (John 6:24). Finding him they asked: (vs. 25) “Rabbi, when did You get here?” Jesus ignores the question and challenges their motives for following him: (vs. 26) “… you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” Of course these people recognized miracles had taken place, but they had not reflected upon the significance of them.

Miracles were not meant to satisfy the physical needs of the recipients. Of course they did this, but their primary purpose was to testify of Jesus. They were the Father’s testimony that he is that Prophet predicted by Moses. Of this Prophet Moses said: (Deuteronomy 18:15) “you shall listen to him.” Of this Prophet God also said: (vss. 19) “… whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.” The people were not seeking him because the signs testified that he is this Prophet like Moses who would speak the words of God. They followed him for what they thought he could give them – food, health and even salvation from Rome. These “seekers” were materialists, being interested primarily in the things relating to this earthly life. They must raise their sights. So Jesus tells them: (vs. 27a) “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you….”

It is not wrong to labor for “food which perishes” (cf., 1 Timothy 5:3-4, 8; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) but we are making a huge mistake when this becomes our primary concern in life. The food grown in our gardens or purchased in grocery stores is perishable not only because it perishes when we use it but it perishes when we don’t use it. Furthermore, it cannot keep our physical bodies from perishing. Though it sustains us for a time, each one of us will die and our bodies will return to the dust from which is was taken.

There is another food, however, a “food which endures to eternal life.” It is food that does not perish with the using and it does not perish through neglect. It remains edible throughout all generations; but more significantly, it has the effect of producing a life that lasts forever to those who eat it. (Morris, 359) The vegetables and meat that we eat sustains our physical life, but only for a short time; but those who eat the food Jesus gives will “not die” (vs. 50).

Jesus offered this bread to men who would soon turn away from him: “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you….” This bread is a gift – a gift from Jesus. Jesus makes it clear, however, that it is not a gift without conditions. They must “work” for this food. Many find this strange for they have been told that men cannot co-operate with God in obtaining eternal life: It is ALL a work of God, there is nothing that you and I are required to do; in fact, there is nothing that we can do. Theologically, this doctrine is called monergism. But it was Jesus who said: “work ... for the food which endures to eternal life which the Son of man will give you.” Evidently, Jesus does not hold to monergism.

But why would his audience or anyone else have confidence that he could provide such wonderful food? In anticipation of such a question Jesus says: (vs. 27b) “… for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” This “seal” is a seal of authentication, like a hallmark. In ancient England those who thought they had articles of gold or silver would take them to the Goldsmith’s Hall in London to have them assayed. If they were proven to be genuine these articles would be given an official mark attesting to their genuineness and purity. God had sealed Jesus with a mark of authentication – a hallmark. What was this seal? It was the miracles he worked. Jesus said: (John 5:36) “… the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish – the very works that I do – testify about Me that the Father has sent Me.” On the day of Pentecost, while making his case that Jesus is “both Lord and Christ” Peter told his audience: (Acts 2:22) “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God (a man approved of God unto you, ASV) with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know.” These miracles are Father’s seal - the Father’s hallmark - guaranteeing the truthfulness of Jesus’ words and promises. Had Jesus come without this seal, men would have an excuse for their disobedience, but they have no excuse. For as Jesus said: (John 15:24b) “… they have seen and hated Me and My Father as well.”

Jesus says: I have bread to give to those who work for it – bread that endures to eternal life. We have confidence that he is able to supply such bread “for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” In response to the Jew asked: (vss. 28-29) “‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’”

Faith is a “work of God.” By itself the expression “work of God” can mean either a work that God does or a work that God has commanded. Without dispute God gives faith, but He gives faith through the word of God: (Romans 10:17) “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” God gives faith, but He gives it indirectly – through the word of truth, the gospel. Those who contend that He gives it directly or through some other way are obliged to prove it.[1]

Having said this, however, I would like to point out that in John 6:29 – “the work of God” is not the work God does; instead, it is the work He commands. God commands men to believe “in Him who He has sent.” Furthermore, the faith commanded is not a once-for-all decision. For Greek word translated “believe” is in the present tense, denoting a continuing belief, an ongoing faith. So what is the work that God commands men who desire to receive the bread that Jesus gives? It is FAITH - an ongoing faith “in Him who He has sent.”

Jesus demanded a work from them, now they demand one from him; they even identify the kind of work they want him to perform. “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You. What work do You perform? Our fathers at the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” (vs. 30) “In a way this is a strange choice, for the multiplication of the loaves … seems to be a sign of exactly the same type. But [as these opponents of the Lord saw it, KM] it took place on one occasion: Moses gave the manna for forty years. Jesus gave bread to five thousand: Moses supplied manna to a whole nation. Jesus gave them ordinary bread, bread such as they ate every day: Moses gave ‘bread out of heaven…” (Morris, 362-363).

The Jews had already seen Jesus perform several “signs” (cf., vs. 26), yet they wanted more! Like thousands in every age they deceived themselves with the idea that if they had just a little more evidence – just one more sign – they would believe. In reality, Jesus could work no sign that would satisfy their desire for just one more sign. If there was ever an illustration of Paul’s words – (1 Corinthians 1:22) “Jews ask for signs” – this is it.

In response to their request Jesus said: (John 6:32-33) “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” The gift of manna was not a gift from Moses, but of the Father Himself. Secondly, the Father was even then giving “the true bread out of heaven,” bread that “gives life” not to Israel alone, but to the “the world.”

Jesus has made this bread seem desirable and so the Jews say: (vs. 34) “Lord, always give us this bread,” to which Jesus replied: (John 6:35) “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” Jesus is not only the giver of bread “which endures to eternal life” (vs. 27), but he himself is that bread. How does one eat this bread? Jesus said: “… he who comes to Me will not hunger … he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

Coming and believing refer to the same thing. These are not physical actions but spiritual. Furthermore these actions are not something that men do only once, but they are ongoing. To slightly paraphrase the Calvinist James White:

When Jesus describes the one who comes to Him and who believes in Him, He uses the present tenses to describe this coming, believing, or, in other passages, hearing or seeing. The present tense refers to a continuous, ongoing action. … The wonderful promises that are provided by Christ are not for those who do not … continually believe. The faith that saves is a living faith, a faith that always looks to Christ as Lord and Savior. …

Many in our world today want us to believe that we can accept Christ simply as a Savior from sin, but not as Lord of our lives. They teach essentially that a person can perform an act of believing on Christ once, and after this they can fall away even into total unbelief and yet still supposedly be ‘saved.’ Christ does not call men in this way. Christ does not save men in this way. The … [one who has eternal life, KM][2] is the one continually coming, always believing in Christ. … [Justifying][3] faith is an ongoing faith, not a one-time act. If one wishes to be eternally satiated, one meal is not enough. If we wish to feast on the bread of heaven, we must do so all our lives. We will never hunger or thirst if we are always coming and always believing in Christ. He is our sufficiency. Christ is the bread from heaven, We must feed on all of Christ, not just the parts that we happen to like. Christ is not the Savior of anyone unless He is their Lord as well.” (James White, Drawn By The Father, 19-20)

The Jews declared that they wanted “the true bread out of heaven” Jesus said: “… he who comes to Me will not hunger … he who believes in Me will never thirst.” But why did the people remain hungry? Why did they continue to thirst? It was as Jesus said: (vs. 36) “… you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.”

The people demanded a sign so that they could “see” and “believe” (vs. 30), but they had already seen him and they were still seeing him and yet they did not believe. They ask for another sign, but as McGarvey wrote: “If one refused to believe in the sun when he sees its light, feels its heat and witnesses its life-giving power, by what sign will you demonstrate to him the existence of the sun?” (J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton, The Fourfold Gospel, vs. 36) When a man rejects the signs that the Father gave Jesus to perform – the signs that were meant to authenticate his claims, his teachings and his promises – what sign can Jesus perform to bring him to the point of faith?

To be continued.

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[1] It is through faith in Jesus that we are given life (cf., John 20:30-31) – that we are born into the family of God (cf., Galatians 3:26; John 1:12). Thus one should not be surprised to read that God regenerates men – causes them to be born again – through the “word of faith” – the gospel (1 Peter 1:22-25; James 1:18; cf. 1 Corinthians 4:15 and Philemon 10). Those who contend that one is born again without the gospel are also obliged to prove it.

[2] The original words are: “The true Christian is the one ….”

[3] The original words are: “Real Christian faith is ….”