Scripture to Read: John 6:41–59
The Jews then grumbled at the fact that Jesus had told them He had come down out of heaven (John 6:41–42). Jesus actually mentioned six different times that He had come down out of heaven (John 6:33, John 6:38, John 6:41, John 6:50, John 6:51, and John 6:58). The problem that the Jews had was that they thought themselves to be already chosen by God because of their physical birth, that they were all descendants of Abraham. Jesus told them in John 6:44–45, No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ (Quotes from Isaiah 54:13 & Jeremiah 31:34) Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. The fact that God “draws” us to Himself is a precious reminder that it is God who chose us first (Romans 5:8), long before we ever chose Him (Ephesians 1:4). God is the one who calls us, but we must still choose to come to Him and follow Him as our King. God never forces anyone to follow Him, but He gives every person the free will to choose to love Him back the way He loves us. If someone chooses not to believe, then that person will not come to the Lord. It’s by faith that we come to the Lord with the free will to surrender to Him as Lord of our lives.
Challenge & Application
• Why did the Jews grumble about what Jesus had said about Himself?
• Why did the Jews think that they were already in right fellowship with God, and why were they wrong?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!