THE KING’ S BUSINESS
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heaven not to do my will, but the will of Him who sent me.” Then follows the statement o f the Father’s gracious will. It is so different from the -,idea that many have o f .God’s w ill The will o f the Father here set forth is “o f all that which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” Any one then that really comes to Jesus and thus proves that.he belongs to “that which the Father hath given” to Jesus can never be lost (cf. John 10:28, 29; 17:12, R. V .; Col. 3:3, 4; T Peter 1:3; Jude 1; 2 Tim. 1:12), It is furthermore the will o f God that " every one ” (1) that beholdeth the Son” and (2) “believeth on Him” “should have eternal life.” Such is the Father’s will, and Jesus adds “ I will raise him up at the last day.” Tuesday, May 23. John 6:41-51. The Jews were greatly staggered at our Lord’s statement that He was the bread that came down out o f heaven. He had grown up among them, they had known Him as “the son o f Joseph” •(o f course, they knew nothing about His virgin birth, that was a matter that could not be made public).; they were acquainted with Joseph and with Mary. How could He say “ I am come down out o f heaven;’’ Our Lord told them how they might, understand it all, that is, by giving themselves up to be “taught o f God” instead o f following out their own reasonings. Every one who would hear what the Father had to say and learn from Him would come to Him. Unless one would listen to the Father and learn from Him the Father would not ■draw Him and no man could come tq Him unless the Father did draw him. But when one was thus drawn by the Father and came to Hyn, he not only immediately escaped from what men called death, but the Lord Himself would “raise him up in the last day.” Whoever would believe on Him, the moment'he believed would obtain eternal life. The manna which their fath ers had eaten in the days o f Moses only afforded temporary strength and life, and
Sunday, May 21. John 6 : 35 - 37 -
Jesus now explained to them that He Himself was the true bread o f life of which He spoke. “I am the bread of life,” were His simple and wonderful words. As the bread of life He could satisfy every hunger o f their hearts and their thirst as well (v. 35). “ Hunger” . may stand for the deep longing for that which ministers strength; “thirst,” the more intense, desire for that which satisfies spiritual craving. So we see that Jesus ministers never-failing strength to all who come to Him, and never-failing peace to all who believe on Him. There is a different shade o f meaning in “coming to Him” and “believing on Him.” “ Com ing to Him” is seeking help and blessing from Himj “ believing on Him” is abso lute abandonment o f self to Him. They had seen this bread right before their eyes (v. 36), but had never appreciated what it was because so taken up with the mate rial and unreal. Just so today, men are so taken up with the material and unreal that they neither appreciate nor believe in this true, bread. But while the mass o f men would not come to Jesus, some would, “all that which the Father giveth me.” That which the Father, hath given unto Christ includes “ every one who hath heard from the Father, and hath learned” (v. 45). Any one can prove that he belongs to that elect and blessed company that the Father hath given to Jesus, by just coming to Him, and if any one does come hd will be received v. 37). O f every one that comes Jesus says in the most positive way “I will in no wise cast him out. I f any one thinks himself too great a sinner to come, of not to belong to the elect and therefore unable to come, or to have sinned away the day o f grace, just let him come and he has the word o f Christ for it that He
will receive .him. Monday, May 22. John 6:38-40.
It is a wonderful reason that Jesus here gives for not casting out any one who comes to Him, viz., “ for I came down from
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