Faith and Life In Jesus

(John 6:41-51)

In this week's Gospel lesson, John 6:41-51, we come to learn two truths:

1) Faith in Jesus is graciously given by His Father, who sent Him.

2) Life in Jesus comes with two promises:

  • Jesus raising you up on the last day.

  • Eternal Life.

Faith in Jesus

The crowd following Jesus struggled to understand who Jesus truly was. They saw Him perform miracles but failed to recognize Him as the Son of God. Jesus points out their lack of faith, emphasizing that seeing Him physically does not equate to truly knowing Him.

The Father plays a crucial role in our journey of faith. He draws us to Jesus, stirs our hearts, and gives us the grace to believe. This divine initiation is essential for us to come to faith in Christ.

Faith, as Jesus explains, is not something we can achieve on our own. It is a gift from God, initiated by the Father. In John 6:44, Jesus states, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." This means that our belief in Jesus results from God's grace, not our own efforts.

Faith is given to us by the grace of God. God initiates our faith, instructs us where to put it, and increases it to know Him more. When we receive the faith to believe, we will also receive life through that faith.

Life In Jesus

Believing in Jesus comes with a profound promise: eternal life. In John 6:40, Jesus says, "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I myself will raise him up on the last day." This promise assures us of a future resurrection and a life beyond the grave.

Eternal life is not just about living forever; it's about a deep, intimate relationship with God. John 17:3 explains, "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." It's about experiencing the fullness of God's presence and love.

Jesus' promise of raising us up on the last day signifies a future where our bodies and souls are united in a glorified state. This resurrection means no more pain, suffering, or death—only eternal joy and peace in God's presence.

Faith and eternal life are profound gifts from God, initiated by the Father and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Let's embrace these truths and allow them to transform our lives. Believe in Jesus, grow in your faith, and live out the promise of eternal life each day.

Peace be with you!

- Pastor Bruce

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