Peter McKenzie

Re the timing of 6:37, I feel like there is a continued giving in view – but it has an expiry date. Given that the “ones that the Father gives me” is a distinct group that existed only at that time and the “giving” is only for the duration of Jesus’ earthly ministry, it can be determined that this is a unique situation for a specific time. So, while there is future aspect in the text, that only applies to the original hearers and their future is our past. If I am correct as it relates to the subjects (as specific people existing at that time) those who “will come to him” can only be those who come to him while He is still alive – therefore revealing a temporary situation. Remember, in verse 38 we see that there is a will (ministry) that occurs during this temporary time of him being on earth.. As far as your last question, I would suggest that those who “will come to him” are simply those who he anticipates encountering in other places other than Caperneum. I think the penny will drop as it regards this passage (and John 17) when it is first established who these ones are that the Father gave Jesus. Once it is realized that Jesus is not speaking about a class of people who span all of history, many of the pieces fall into place. If you read these verses (37-39) carefully, you will see that there are things in each verse that link to the other verses that reveal a setting that is focused on that time. This passage in John 6 is near the start of his ministry – whereas John 17 is kind of the recap at the end and there he provides an encapsulation and report of how things have gone. He lost none of them except for Judas.