INTRODUCTION
Michael grew up in church. He heard the Gospel call every week. But he always said, “No” to Jesus. In his sermons, his pastor would frequently ask questions like, “Will you have Jesus? Will you take him as your Savior? Will you receive him as your Lord? Will you welcome Jesus into your life?” In his heart, Michael always said, “No.” This went on for many years. Gospel call, Gospel rejection, back to work…..Gospel call, Gospel rejection, back to work.
But one Sunday, the sermon got to his heart. He saw the beauty and glory of Jesus as he had never seen before. He saw his need of Jesus as never before. He wanted Jesus, he longed to know him and love him personally. As the pastor came to the end of his sermon, he appealed to his congregation as he often did: “Will you have Jesus? Will you take him as your Savior? Will you receive him as your Lord? Will you welcome Jesus into your life?”
Michael wanted to say, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” to these questions, but instead, found new questions rising in his heart. When the pastor asked, “Will you have Jesus?” Michael asked, “Will Jesus have me?” When the pastor asked, ” Will you take him as your Savior?” Michael asked, “Will he take me ?” When the pastor asked, “Will you receive Jesus?” Michael asked, “Will he receive me.” When the pastor asked, “Will you welcome Jesus into your life?” Michael asked, “Will he welcome me?”
Maybe you are a Michael. You’ve heard the Gospel call for many years and rejected it. From time to time your heart is touched, you see your need of Jesus, and you think of praying for salvation, but then the questions start: “Will Jesus have me? Will Jesus take me? Will Jesus receive me? Will Jesus welcome me?”
Let’s hear Jesus’ answer to these question in John 6:35-47.
What proof is there that Jesus will welcome me?
1. JESUS CAME TO US (38)
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (37-38).
The Father Sent
”All that the Father gives me… (37). Before time and the world began, God the Father gave an innumerable number of people to God the Son to save. The Father chose the people, the Father gave the people, and the Father proposed the plan to save the people. The Son agreed with the Father’s choice of his people, received the Father’s gift of them, accepted the Father’s plan to save them, and went willingly when the Father sent him. “I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (38).
The Son Came
“For I have come down from heaven…” (38). The Son having agreed with the Father’s plan and having accepted the terms, said, “Here am I, send me.” He didn’t object to the Father’s plan, he didn’t edit or adjust it, he didn’t propose his own plan. He came in full agreement with the plan, eager to implement the plan, with full confidence in the plan. He came as a Servant of God to be a Savior of sinners. Just as the manna came down from heaven to the Israelites, so Jesus came down from heaven to us.
CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY
Be encouraged to come to Jesus by Jesus coming to us. As we’ll see shortly, all three persons of the Godhead–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–are completely united in mind, heart, and action to save.
He came to us. That’s great. But how do I come to him?
2. WE COME TO JESUS (35. 37)
We come because the Father draws us to Jesus
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (44)
There are many things we can do today that our parents or grandparents never could. We live in such a day of unprecedented opportunity and capacity that “You can” or “I can” has become a catchphrase. But there’s one thing they could not do, that we still cannot do, and no one will ever be able to do. That is, come to Jesus. “No one can come to me.” This is a will problem. We don’t come because we won’t come. We don’t come because we don’t want to come. This not just a disability but an inability, an incapacity. He came to us but we cannot come to him. He came willingly to us but we have no will to come to him.
That’s where the Holy Spirit enters the picture. Just as the Father sent the Son to save us, so the Father sends the Spirit to draw us. The Father who sent me draws him (44). ‘Draw’ is the word that describes the disciples pulling in their nets filled with fish (John 21:11). Just as fish don’t jump into the net or the boat, neither do we have any enthusiasm for Jesus. We need The divine persuader to work on our wills to draw us into the Gospel net and pull us into the Gospel boat. How does he do that? He does it by teaching us about Jesus.
We come because the Father teaches us about Jesus
It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me (45).
There’s a life-or-death difference between being taught by a preacher or a teacher and being taught by God. There’s a life-or-death difference between hearing only a preacher’s voice and hearing God’s voice. When God teaches, God draws. God draws through God teaching. When God teaches us about Jesus, we come to Jesus.
CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD”S STORY
Praise God for his drawing. How do I know if I’m drawn by God and taught by God? Has he brought you to Jesus? That’s where God’s teaching and drawing always leads–to Christ. If I’ve come to Christ it’s because God sovereignly and graciously taught be about Jesus in such a way that it drew me to Jesus
Pray to God for his drawing. If you’ve never been drawn to Jesus in such a way that he is your only and complete hope of Salvation, then confess your inability and pray that God would teach you so that you are drawn.
It’s amazing that the Father teaches and draws me by his Spirit. But how can I be sure that Jesus will have me?
3. JESUS WELCOMES US (37)
He welcomes us when we believe
“Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (37).
He will not refuse to save anyone who comes to him. No matter our past, our weaknesses, our sins, our record. There are no circumstances in which this will happen. It’s unimaginable. He will never reject, he will never expel. The negative (‘never cast out’) is a stronger way of saying ‘will always welcome.’ No matter where we’ve been, what we’ve done, who we are. He will always welcome.
He welcomes us when we sin
We come to Jesus but then turn away from him, sin against him, live without him. Can I return? Can I go back? “Whoever comes to me I will always welcome.” When we say hello, he will never say goodbye.
He welcomes us at the resurrection
”And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day” (39).
In verses 40, 44, Jesus underlines that on the last day he will raise up everyone that believed in him. What a great promise-pillow to die on.
CHANGING OUR STORY WITH GOD’S STORY
Don’t doubt. This is an unbreakable promise that you can take to the bank again and again. He will welcome us when we believe, when we sin, and when we rise again.
Don’t delay. Don’t wait until you’ve had a few good days, or put a few things right. Come now for a welcome now.
SUMMARY
PRAYER
Welcomer, draw me so that I come to you and am welcomed by you. Please draw rejecters so that they welcome you and are welcomed by you.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What makes you doubt Jesus’ welcome?
2. How did God draw you? or teach you?
3. How can you reconcile the two parts of verse 37?
4. What passages would you use to persuade someone that Jesus will welcome them?
5. How did Jesus welcome you?
6. What’s your favorite part of this passage?