January 18, 2022

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” Jn 6:37 nkjv

According to the Jewish New Testament Commentary (by David H Stern), page 173, with reference to this verse [jn 6:37 nkjv], we are told the following:

“This is as forthright a statement of the paradox of predestination and free will as can be found. The Father has given certain people to Yeshua. How do I find out if I am one of them? By coming to Yeshua: I have free will and can choose to come, and I have Yeshua’s word that he will not turn me away. Some claim that New Testament faith is exclusivists, but here we see that Yeshua is available universally (see also Ro 10:11-13)”

“For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” ro 10:11-13 nkjv

So, unless as the Proverb above says, “…But he who hates correction is stupid;” then, if we love instruction, we love knowledge. The Bible says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Ro 10:17 nkjv

The sixth chapter of John is a somewhat difficult chapter to assimilate, at least in the “carnal” sense. Yeshua taught some difficult “on the surface” things, such as about eating his flesh and drinking his blood… a reading of the Torah would dispute that on its face value. Even many of the people who followed him “turned away,” because it was too hard to accept. Of course we would equate this example as Him being the “Lamb of God,” our Passover lamb, as would later be understood… being symbolic, not cannibalistic.

Yeshua in verse 6:67, concerning this fallout, asked his twelve disciples if they wished to go away…

“But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve. jn 6:68-71 nkjv

Here we see that even if one is “chosen” by God, it is the choices and actions of the individual that determines their destiny… I believe Yahweh foreknew that Judas would defect, yet he was included in the predestined to be a chosen one. I think I can reason, by the scriptures that Judas was stupid. He had the the same instruction and knowledge of Yeshua as the other eleven… but he did not receive “correction,” within his heart/mind.

“A man is not established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.” prov 12:3 nkjv

What is the message of this example to us?

Shalom... John