John 6:35-51
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
It is understandable that, when it comes to our relationship with God, we are quick to think about we can do. The people had been asking Jesus “what must we do?” Jesus answer that they should believe in Him was an unexpected answer. They could not accept it.
In teaching them, Jesus lets us glimpse the inner workings of the Holy Triune God. And we discover that there is much more at play than just what “we must do” to save ourselves. In fact, everything is due to God’s Grace and action in Jesus. God gives us to Jesus. Jesus keeps the will of God, which means that He will not lose us but raise us on the last day.
This supremely comforting truth is from our Lord’s own lips. We are saved by God’s Grace through faith in Jesus. Still, no sooner do we hear this, then we are tempted to think about what we must do. We ruminate on how we must try harder.
It is true, that after we have come to saving faith, we can work together with Holy Spirit through repentance and faith in Jesus. This is still a work of God and results in a renewed life in the believer. Certainly, if we treat the gifts of God with contempt by living apart from God’s Will, we deny both God and His gifts. But, the necessary call to the life of repentance doesn’t overturn the fact that our salvation is a gift from beginning to end. Our salvation is due to the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus alone. Therefore, our faith is in Jesus. He is the bread of life.
Jesus came into the world to offer Himself on the cross for the sins of the world. On the third day He rose again to eternal life. His death and resurrection are the one great saving act which defines us. Through baptism as commanded by Jesus we are bound to His saving work and we are marked by God for life at the last day. This is all to God’s glory and our own great joy.
The people Jesus addressed so long ago were frantic in their worries about their survival. We can understand these concerns. But, Jesus teaches us again today that He is life. As we believe in Him, our sins are forgiven and our God given faith is the sign that God the Father has chosen us for life. And after this life, we can be sure that our life with God is secure, because Jesus will complete His promises. He will raise us up on the last day.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus, you taught that the will of your Father is that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life. You promised that you will raise those who believe in your on the last day. I confess that you are the bread of life. I thank you heavenly Father for drawing me to my Savior Jesus. I thank your Lord God for the gift of faith through Holy Baptism. And I trust in you Lord Jesus. You will keep your promises and raise me, and all believers, to eternal life with you on the last day. In your name I pray, AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.