Scripture Daily

Context No. 4198 of 4322 · John

Context · Reflection

John 6:34-40: in context

34They said therefore to him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” 35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don’t believe. 37All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day. 40This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus declares himself the bread of life: whoever comes to him will never hunger, and whoever believes in him will never thirst. And then he makes a promise of remarkable security: the one who comes to me I will never cast out. To everyone who comes, without exception, Jesus gives an unconditional welcome; he will not turn away or drive out anyone who comes to him.

The security goes deeper still. Jesus says it is the Father's will that of all he has given him, he should lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. Not only does Jesus welcome all who come; he keeps them, losing none, and will raise them up at the end. The one who comes to Christ is received without rejection and held without loss, all the way to resurrection.

Whatever our past, whatever our sense of unworthiness, Jesus says plainly: the one who comes to me I will never cast out. He does not turn away those who come, and he does not lose those the Father gives him. To come to Christ is to be received with an unconditional welcome and held with an unbreakable grip.

When I fear that I might not be welcome to Christ, or might not be kept by him, do I take him at his word that he will never cast out the one who comes, and that he will lose nothing the Father has given him but raise it up on the last day?

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