Cheryl Schatz

Peter, you wrote: One thing that points toward a limited setting, is seen in verse 38. The will of the Father is seen as an event which had a set time frame. It was done while Jesus was on earth. IOW that will was done after being “sent down from heaven” and “done by the one who sent Him”. In verse 39, we see what the “will” is. It is losing none of the pre-existing, believing Jews – those who are said to to be “the ones that were given to Him”. That is a part of the will of the Father. But it is not limited to these Jews. The will of the Father that sent Jesus is far greater than the believers during the first century. This passage does not teach that those who come to Him are unbelievers who were unconditionally chosen before time and who are promised from their election that they will be saved. In John 5, Jesus points out the unbelievers in the guise of religious people who cannot come to Him. In John 6, Jesus speaks of those who already belong to the Father as believers, not unbelievers for unbelievers cannot believe His words. Psalm 25:14 shows that God’s revelation and His covenant (Jesus) are given to those who fear Him. Psalm 25:14 14 The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant. You wrote: That is an interesting observation – and one I hadn’t considered. I haven’t looked at the original language to see if “casting out” is the same thing as “driving away”. If it is, your point is certainly weighty. My only observation is that, in the context of John 6, Jesus is driving away people at that time (and this notion is substantiated by the fact that many left him). I would suggest that Jesus did not “drive away” people in John 6. It was their unbelief that caused them to leave. Jesus made an observation in John 6:64 just before verse 66 says that people withdrew and were not “walking with Him anymore.” John 6:64 64 “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. “Driving away” is an action that Jesus accomplishes as the Judge. But in John 6:66-69 we see that it the actions of the crowd was because of unbelief. John 6:66–69 66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” The crowd went “away” from Jesus because they had not placed their faith in Him. They were unbelieving followers just like Judas. Notice that Peter says that they can’t go away from Jesus because they have believed in Him. They believe that Jesus is the Holy One of God and that He has the words of eternal life. The crowd was looking for eternal physical bread and the fact that Jesus said He came down from heaven was too much for them. They would not stay around long enough to see Him go back to heaven where He came from for no unbeliever was in that crowd when Jesus left.