Read John 6:32–40
Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does Jesus say is the giver of true bread (John 6:32)? What is the bread of God (John 6:33)? For what do they ask (John 6:34)? What does Jesus call Himself in John 6:35? What two things will never be done again by a person who comes to Jesus for life? But what does Jesus say that His hearers are not doing (John 6:36)? Who will come to Jesus (John 6:37)? What will Jesus not do with those who come to Him? From where has Jesus come (John 6:38)? What has Jesus not come to do? What has Jesus come to do? Whose will does Jesus describe in John 6:39? To whom has the Father given particular people? What will Jesus not do with any of those people? What will Jesus certainly do with all of those people? What has the Father willed to give to everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him (John 6:40)? What will Jesus do with that person on the last day?
Next week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, Song of Adoration, and Prayer of Confession all come from John 6:32–40, so that we will see that we are singing God’s thoughts after Him with Come unto Me, Ye Weary.
The people had asked for bread like manna (cf. John 6:30-31). What could be better than free bread from heaven that is so nourishing and tasty (cf. Exodus 16:31, Exodus 16:35) that the Scripture nicknames it “the bread of angels” (cf. Psalm 78:24–25)?
The true bread from heaven is infinitely better (John 6:32-33). Manna gave earthly life to Israelites for forty years. The bread from heaven, the Lord Jesus Himself, gives life to the full, to the whole world, forever and ever.
Of course, they want this bread, and Jesus doubles up on the invitation. And what a marvelous invitation!: come to Jesus (John 6:35a), and believe in Jesus (verse 35b), and all true needs will be fulfilled (verse 35a–b). It is impossible that you be rejected (John 6:37). And, His supply and strength are so secure that it is impossible that you be lost and absolutely certain that you be raised to everlasting life (John 6:39, John 6:40).
So why don’t they accept it? Because they can’t. The ability to come to the Lord Jesus for life comes from the same Father, in the same electing love, and the same almighty power, as the Lord Jesus Himself. We can no more bring ourselves to the Lord Jesus, than we can bring the Lord Jesus down from heaven to us. The Father has to give both (John 6:32b, John 6:44).
And of course if the Father, Who gave Christ, now also gives to you to come to Christ, it is utterly impossible that you be lost! It is the Father’s resolute determination to save you, and the Son’s perfectly harmonious resolute determination to do it—repeated three times in John 6:37-38, John 6:39, and John 6:40!
So, dear reader. Come to the Lord Jesus. It will be no excuse at last to say, “I can’t.” Indeed, if you feel that you cannot, be of good cheer. He Himself gives also the ability to come. And when you do, it will be with the gratitude of one who knows that the Lord has given all by His hand, and with the confidence of one who knows that you can never be taken from His hand (cf. John 10:27–30)!
In what ways are you have difficulty resting in and being satisfied by the Lord Jesus? Who can do something about that? If you come to Him, what will He do about it and for how long?
Suggested songs: ARP125 “All Like Mount Zion Shall Endure” or TPH443 “Come unto Me, Ye Weary”
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