Faith Granted By The Father
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John 6:64-65
“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. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
This is the second time Jesus told the crowd that there were some who did not believe. In John 6:36 He said, “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.” We learn in these verses that one of those Jesus knew didn’t believe in Him was Judas Iscariot. We also discover a profound truth. The reason Judas didn’t believe was because the Father hadn’t granted it to him. This reminds me of something else Jesus said while explaining the parable of the soils, recorded in Mark 4:11-12. “And He was saying to them, ‘To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.’” Jesus loved Judas, but the Father didn’t grant that he would hear and believe. Earlier we read in John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” Jesus surrendered Himself to do the Father’s will and to be satisfied with it. For us to live to love with Jesus, we must have the same attitude of trust.
Maybe I should say it this way. If we believe in Jesus, then we do have the same attitude of trust dwelling in us because Jesus lives in us. We have His Spirit, and His Spirit is our life. Jesus was jealous for the Spirit to get the glory He deserves in doing the work that only He can do. He would not do what the Spirit was given to do. He only did what the Father gave Him to do. He received what the Father gave Him and was a faithful Son. That attitude of trust is foundational to loving with Jesus.
As we love the people God puts in our paths each day, we do so trusting the Father to draw them to Jesus and trusting the Holy Spirit to give life. Remember, Jesus said in verse 63, “It is the Spirit who gives life.” Our responsibility is to love with Jesus, that is the fruit of the Vine in us, the branches. Our hope and prayer is that the will and work of God will be done in the hearts and lives of those who are His. There is freedom with this kind of faith. It frees us from discouragement, guilt, and feelings of inadequacy if we don’t see results. We can leave the results to God, just as Jesus did.
Also, let’s draw encouragement from this wonderful truth. If we believe, it is because the Father has granted it. He created us for His Son and gave us to Him. Therefore, we come to Him, believe in Him, and receive life in Him. To God be the glory! Let us be filled with gratitude and joy for God’s great wisdom and grace revealed to us in Christ. Thank you, Father, for giving us to Your Son, Jesus. We are forever blessed and grateful.