The Father's Will

Let's look at John 6:25-30 today as Jesus clarifies things for the crowd and for us today:

John 6:25-40 NIV

[25] When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

[26] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 

[27] Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 

[28] Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 

[29] Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 

[30] So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? [31] Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 

[32] Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 

[33] For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

[34] “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” [35] Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 

[36] But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 

[37] All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 

[38] For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 

[39] And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 

[40] For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.6.25-40.NIV

This is so exciting. Jesus clarifies things for the crowd.

In the first section, the crowd who were fed by his miracle meet up with him on the other side of the lake. He knows their motive for finding him. They wanted more food. They were only concerned with their temporary, physical needs (v.26). Jesus corrects them here in verse 27. He tells them to focus on eternal things. Focus on "food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." Here he is saying to focus on eternal things by focusing on him and he would give them eternal life. Same teaching for us. Do not make the temporary things around us our main focus or reason for living. They don't last. Make Jesus, who gives us eternal life, our main focus and purpose for our lives.

Next, the crowd was still thinking about the law of Moses that they were under. Under the old law, man had to do all these works to be right with God and forgiven of sins. So it is easy to see how their next question would focus on them and not Jesus... 

[28] Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 

See? They still thought they had to do all these works to be right with God and have forgiveness of sins, just like many do today. Many think their salvation is based on what they do. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot give ourselves eternal life. Only God can do that through His Son, Jesus Christ. So, Jesus shows them the New Covenant he would bring into the world with his answer. A covenant based on faith in him and not based on works, which is the covenant the Church is under today.

[29] Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 

See? God wants humanity to believe in Jesus Christ.

In verses 30-34, the crowd wants him to show them another sign so they can believe in him. After having eaten the bread and fish from Jesus's last miracle, they STILL need another sign to believe in him. They said that Moses gave their ancesters manna to eat in the wilderness. So,what would he give them?

Jesus corrects them and says Moses did not give them bread to eat, but the Father did, God did. Now, he told them that God gives them "true bread from heaven," talking about himself.

[33] For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

Still not understanding, they said,"from now on give us this bread."

Jesus had to spell it out for them AND us in verse 35:

[35] Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Jesus is life. Whoever believes in Him has eternal life. Our hope and assurance of eternal life comes in the next verses.

37] All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 

[38] For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 

[39] And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 

[40] For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

See our assurance? Whoever comes to Jesus and believes in him, he will "never drive away." Our assurance comes from Jesus himself when he says, "I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." Once you are "born again," and saved Jesus will NEVER lose you. That's the Father's will. In the last verse in the passage, Jesus tells us the Father's will:

[40] For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

That's the gospel. That's the good news about Jesus Christ. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God will be given the free gift of eternal life and Jesus will never lose those who believe in him and he will raise us up at the last day. Plain and simple. That's the Father's will.

Jesus further emphasizes this in John chapter 10:

John 10:27-29 NIV

[27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.10.27-29.NIV

If you believe in Jesus you have eternal life and will never perish. No one will ever snatch you or I out of Jesus's hand or the Father's hand. That's the gospel of Jesus Christ. That's the good news about Jesus Christ. That's the Father's will. Doesn't get any better than that!!!!

Love you dear readers,

Jeffrey Post