Text John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
After reading John 6:24-37, we are enlightened to the manner in which Jesus welcomed the people. In verses 24-24, the people are met with rebuke, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth: (vs.27). But, in vs.37 they are met with reward, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” How does one rectify the varied responses of Jesus to the same people? In Jesus’ first response, the people are drawn by substance, “Ye seek me . . . because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (vs.26). They were motivated to seek out the Lord Jesus Christ for physical reasons; they wanted more free bread and fish. Jesus’ second response is different because the people were not being motivated by the substance, but the Sovereign; “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me” (vs.37). In their first response, the people’s motivation was secular; in the second, it was spiritual!
While a study of the above subject is not only needful and necessary, my spirit was awakened to the phrase; “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Please notice a few things about the phrase. Within the first half of the phrase, Jesus is making a reference to a specific person that will move forward in His direction to assume a place near to Him or directly by His side. The last half of the phrase reveals the welcome that this person can expect to receive from the Lord Himself. The phrase “I will in no wise” is made up of two words; one is an absolute negative meaning no, not, or never. The other is a negative interrogative response of no, never, or God forbid. The phrase “cast out” means to throw out side or out of doors from the point of origin. When these thoughts are combined, Jesus is saying, “When a specific person moves toward me for the purposes of assuming a place by my side, they will absolutely never need to worry about being cast out of my presence!”
In my consideration of that statement made by Jesus, the thing that moved me was not only the rest for the sinner, but the ramification for the saint! If this was to be the manner in which God welcomes a sinner; what is to be the anticipation of a son. If this was to be the manner in which God welcomes a rebel; what is to be the anticipation of a relative. As a son and a relative by the complete and finished work of Christ on Calvary, I am encouraged by God’s Word; “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
As a child of God, have you ever been hesitant in your approach to God. You have somehow convinced yourself that you will be met with a less that favorable welcome; this type of faulty thinking is due to our misunderstanding of the attributes of God and the appropriation of grace!
You are welcome in His presence because of forgiveness; “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). Because of the sufficiency of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; all our sin, past, present, and future, have been atoned for and we occupy a righteous standing before a Righteous and Holy God! The only one that retain knowledge of our sin is self and Satan; if we are being reminded of them, it is not the work of an all forgiving God.
You are welcome in His presence because He is your Father; “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). I am told that the phrase “Abba, Father” is one of endearment projecting the idea of our word, “Poppa.” Alfred Barnes said that slaves were not permitted to use the title of Abba in addressing the master of the family to which they belonged. It was a title reserved for the lips of free men; thus revealing that this is the language of those not bound under the servitude of sin. Matthew reminds us of the benefits of our fatherly relationship; “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11).
You are welcome in His presence because He is a friend; “there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Jesus said, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15). Thank God for forgiveness and the fact that He is our Heavenly Father, but what a blessing to know that He is our friend! The writer of Proverbs said, “A friend loveth at all times” (Proverbs 17:17). I have heard it said that a friend is one that can take the wheat and the chaff and with the breath of kindness blow away the chaff and keep the wheat!
The next time you are hesitant to approach God, remember the forgiveness, the Father, and the friend. If He would never cast out a sinner that is motivated by the spirit, could we as sons, expect any less of a welcome in His presence?