John 6:41-45

 

John 6:41 (KJB)

The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

 

Murmured - Grumbling or muttering in a low voice

 

If there is one thing that is a signifying mark of false religion, it is the complete rejection of truth and diversion from the truth. Jesus just finished speaking about salvation and being raised from the dead, which the Pharisees believed, and what subject do they revert to? It is the teaching that Jesus is the bread which came down from Heaven. Instead of trying to discuss salvation which Jesus just got done speaking about, they divert the issue. Just because Jesus was from Nazareth, they would not accept the fact that He came from Heaven. They looked at the physical aspect but neglected the spiritual aspect. These represent the previous verse as those who saw but did not believe.

 

John 6:42 (KJB)

And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

 

Here comes the “ we knew you when” argument. Obviously the Pharisees had sent emissaries or some of them may have visited Mary and Joseph in Nazareth to find out more about Jesus. So this is how they would probably have known Him plus maybe some of them were still alive when Jesus was in the Temple at the age of 12, confounding the doctors by expounding the law. So they knew that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and lived in Nazareth, so since they were looking only at the physical, that is, walking by sight and not by faith, they were confounded once again. How could He have come down from Heaven if He was living in Nazareth?

 

John 6:43 (KJB)

Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

 

Jesus gives them a command to stop grumbling among themselves. Jesus was right there and could have answered any questions, instead they would rather murmur among themselves which made no sense. Murmuring is what got Israel into trouble in the wilderness. The murmured against Moses, Aaron, and even God. They had forgotten what is was like to labor for 16 hours every day under the lash. 1500 years later and they were still grumbling against God.

 

John 6:44 (KJB)

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

Can - Be able, have power to do, have capacity for

Draw - Drag or force

 

The fact is clear that the sinner, which Christians used to be, is spiritually dead and loves their sin. (John 3:19 KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Since man is dead in sins, there is no way that they can come to Christ, and this verse shows us that no man is able or has the power to come to Christ of their own volition. The way that a person comes to Christ is that the Father must draw or literally drag them. Since they are in a state of spiritual death, all they know is sin and this world. God has to take them and resurrect their souls, grant them spiritual ears and eyes, place the Holy Spirit in them, thus giving them salvation. God then takes them and transfers them from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God. (Col 1:12-13 KJV) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: {13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Colossians 1:12-13 speaks about God the Father qualifying us to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints and then translating us from darkness to the Kingdom of God. So this verse completely squelches the false notion of free will because we see that it is the Father who does the work of salvation in the life of the believer. Those who claim that they can save themselves by their own will are basically stating that they have as much strength and authority as the Father. Think about it. This verse is also the third declaration in John where Jesus speaks about the rapture of the Saints at the last day.

 

John 6:45 (KJB)

It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

 

Heard - Hearing with understanding

 

(Isa 54:13 KJV) And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. As far back as Isaiah, the children of Israel will be taught of God. The problem was that the same spiritual deafness which permeated Isaiah’s time, was still prevalent in Jesus’ time. The prerequisite for learning from the Father is that a person must hear and understand first. They must have the spiritual ears which are necessary for salvation so they may hear the spiritual message. The Jews were a good example of those who only physically heard the message. They were unable to discern the teachings and that resulted in them not knowing who Christ was. So only those whom the Father qualifies will come to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation as we have read in the previous verses. These are those who were named before the foundation of the world for salvation who will come to Christ and this will continue until the last one is saved.

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