A reading from the gospel according to John 6:37-40
Jesus said to the crowds:
37 “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
38 because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.
39 And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”
Reflection: Submission to God’s will
In John 3:16, we read how much God loves us that He sent His only Son and that if we believe in Him, we will not perish but instead, we will have eternal life. That is the core of God’s will. He wants us to be saved through His Son Jesus. That is why anyone who comes to the Son and believes in Him will never be rejected.
Jesus submitted Himself completely to the will of His Father no matter how much suffering He had to endure. During His agony in the garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives, He prayed “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42). Indeed, Jesus did not run away from doing the will of God but embraced it wholeheartedly. His obedience to the Father’s will brought Him to Calvary to be hung on the cross for our salvation.
The cross is proof of Jesus’ submission to God’s will. Through the cross, Jesus manifested how much love God has for each one of us. Through the cross, our sinfulness is laid bare. Yet through the cross, we are saved and we can now be raised on the last day.
Jesus is inviting us to come to Him without fear of rejection. No matter how unworthy we are because of our sins, He will never reject us. He only wants us to repent and He will renew us. On this day of all souls, let us once more ask forgiveness for our sins as we contemplate His great act of obedience to the Father’s will – to suffer and die that we may have eternal life. May we also have the gift to know God’s will for us and the grace to be obedient to His will.
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Jesus speaks words of profound hope and comfort: “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). These verses are a beautiful assurance of God’s love and the certainty of salvation for those who trust in Jesus. They remind us that no matter where we are in life, Jesus is ready to receive us with open arms, offering eternal life that nothing can take away.
Jesus Welcomes All Who Come to Him
The promise begins with Jesus affirming that everyone the Father draws will come to Him. This speaks to the heart of God’s desire for all people to be saved. No one is excluded from the invitation. It doesn’t matter how broken or lost you feel, or how many mistakes you’ve made. Jesus promises, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” There is no rejection, no condemnation, no turning away. Jesus’ love is steadfast, and His arms are open wide to all who seek Him.
We often struggle with feelings of unworthiness. We think we’re too sinful, too far gone, or too flawed for God to truly accept us. But Jesus’ words are clear — if we come to Him, He will not cast us out. This is a radical statement in a world where rejection and judgment are common. With Jesus, we find unconditional acceptance. He sees us for who we are, yet still embraces us, offering us a place in His kingdom.
Jesus Came to Do the Father’s Will
In verse 38, Jesus declares, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” This statement points to the deep unity between the Father and the Son. Jesus’ mission was not a personal agenda but a divine plan to rescue humanity. The will of the Father is for all who believe in Jesus to receive eternal life. Jesus came to fulfill that mission with absolute faithfulness.
This brings incredible reassurance. We can trust that Jesus is completely committed to our salvation, not because of our merit but because it is the Father’s will. Our redemption was God’s plan from the beginning, and Jesus fulfilled it through His death and resurrection. He didn’t come to condemn but to save, to gather all who believe in Him into eternal life.
The Promise of Eternal Life
Verse 39 is a powerful reminder of the security we have in Christ: “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” Jesus promises that He will not lose a single person whom the Father has given to Him. Our salvation is secure because it rests in the hands of Jesus, the one who has conquered sin and death. We are not just saved for this life but for eternity.
Verse 40 underscores this truth: “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” Eternal life is the promise for all who believe. It’s not just about life after death, but a life that begins the moment we come to Jesus—full of His grace, love, and purpose.
Resting in the Assurance of Jesus
These words from Jesus invite us to rest in His love and the certainty of His promises. If you come to Jesus, He will receive you. He will never abandon you. Your eternal destiny is secure in His hands. Trust in Him, and find peace knowing that He holds your life now and forever.
