All Those The Father Gives Me

John 6:28,32,35-40,44 – Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”… 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…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. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 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. 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.”…“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

John 10:28-29 – I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

John 17:12,15,19 – While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by^[a]that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled…My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one…For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Application:

• ·         God’s action, not ours, is primary in salvation, and Christ’s mercy is unfailing.
• ·         True believers will persevere because of Christ’s firm hold on them.
• ·         People do not come to Christ strictly on their own initiative; the Father draws them.
• ·         The Father’s power is greater than that of any enemy, making the sheep completely secure.
• ·         “What must we do…?” means they missed the point that eternal life is Christ’s gift and were thinking in terms of achieving it by pious works.
• ·         Jesus corrected the people, pointing out that the manna in the wilderness did not come from Moses but from God and that the Father still “gives” the true bread from heaven (life through the Son).
• ·         Death cannot destroy the life that Christ gives.
• ·         Eternal life is Christ’s gift.
• ·         The sheep’s security is in the power of the shepherd, who will let no one take them from Him.
• ·         Christ’s power is adequate for every need.
• ·         The world is where Jesus’ disciples are to do their work; Jesus does not wish them to be taken from it until that work is done.
• ·         Jesus died on the cross not only to save us but also to consecrate us to God’s service.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

I Am

John 6:33-35 – For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 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.

Exodus 3:14 – God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

John 8:12 – When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 10:9,11,14-15 – I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture…“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 11:25-26 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Isaiah 41:4 – Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord—with the first of them and with the last—I am he.”

Isaiah 43:10 – “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.

John 2:11 – What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Application:

• ·         “I AM WHO I AM” was the name by which God wished to be known and worshiped in Israel—the name that expressed His character as the dependable and faithful God who desires the full trust of His people.
• ·         Jesus applied the phrase “I Am” to Himself; in so doing He claimed to be God and risked being stoned for blasphemy.
• ·         It is also true that “God is light”.
• ·         Jesus said that the good shepherd is willing to die for His sheep.
• ·         Jesus not only is life, but He also conveys life to believers so that death will never triumph over them.
• ·         Jesus is not one way among many but the only way.
• ·         “The gate” is the one way into salvation.
• ·         “I know…my sheep know” is a deep mutual knowledge, like that of the Father and the Son.
• ·         A living union with Christ is absolutely necessary; without it there is nothing.
• ·         Since the Lord was present with the first of the generations and will still be there with the last of them, He is the eternal Lord of history and nations
• ·         God’s work in behalf of Israel is proof of His saving power.
• ·         Signs revealed Jesus’ glory and likely also pointed to the fullness of the salvation He came to effect.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Manna

John 6:14,31-32 – After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”…Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 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.

Exodus 16:4 – Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.

Application:

• ·         That the God of Israel could provide food in the wilderness for His people for 40 years was one of the great signs that Israel’s God was the true God, the Lord of creation.
• ·         Through Moses, God had provided food and water for the people in the wilderness, and they expected the Prophet to do more than this.
• ·         Jesus corrected them, pointing out that the manna in the wilderness did not come from Moses but from God and that the Father still “gives” the true bread from heaven (life through the Son).

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Believe

John 6:29-30 – Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

1 John 3:23 – And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

John 2:11 – What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Application:

• ·         Believing in Jesus Christ is the indispensable “work” God calls for—the one that leads to eternal life.
• ·         God’s command has two parts: (1) Believe in Christ, and (2) love each other.
• ·         Signs revealed Jesus’ glory and likely also pointed to the fullness of the salvation He came to effect.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

What Must We Do...?

John 6:28 – Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Titus 3:4-7 – But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Application:

• ·         “What must we do…?” means they missed the point that eternal life is Christ’s gift and were thinking in terms of achieving it by pious works.
• ·         No human effort can contribute to our salvation; it is the gracious gift of God.
• ·         No one can take credit for his or her salvation.
• ·         Salvation is not achieved by human effort or merit but comes through God’s mercy alone.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Eternal Life

John 6:26-29 – 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. 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.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

John 2:11 – What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Ephesians 4:30 – And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

2 Timothy 2:19 – Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Mark 8:31 – He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

John 4:34 – “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

Application:

• ·         John always refers to Jesus’ miracles as “signs”, a word emphasizing the significance of the action rather than the marvel.
• ·         “Eternal life” is not something to be achieved but to be received by faith in Christ.
• ·         The verb “grieve demonstrates that the Holy Spirit is a person, not just an influence, for only a person can be grieved.
• ·         The church is owned and securely protected by God.
• ·         “What must we do…?” means the people missed the point that eternal life is Christ’s gift and were thinking in terms of achieving it by pious works.
• ·         Believing in Jesus Christ is the indispensable “work” God calls for—the one that leads to eternal life.
• ·         The Son of Man is pictured as a heavenly figure who in the end times is entrusted by God with authority, glory and sovereign power.
• ·         John often mentions that Jesus depended on the Father and did the work the Father sent Him to do.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Make Him King By Force

John 6:15-25 – Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

John 18:36 – Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Application:

• ·         Jesus agrees that He has a kingdom but asserts that it is not the kind of kingdom that has soldiers to fight for it. It was not built, nor is it maintained, by military might.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV