Thoughts on the Gospel of John (28) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught by God. Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life.
John 6:44-47.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (28)
The Jewish scribes revealed their disapproval of Jesus by murmuring, when He claimed to have come from heaven (vv. 41-43). They thus proved what man is like by nature: self-willed and opposed to God. "There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable" (Romans 3:11.12). Left to himself, man will seek neither God nor good. Not even our conscience, which makes itself noticed with an admonishing voice at every wrong, can bring anyone back to God. It only accuses us.

Man is not as free as he supposes. When it is a question of good or evil, he always inclines towards evil, being a ruined creature since the fall through sin.

Can nobody therefore decide to put his faith in Jesus? Indeed, we can, but only because the Father is working in our heart, drawing us to His Son. How does He do so? The quotation above from the prophets makes it clear: through the teaching of God's Word. God the Father enlightens us, on the one hand, as to the excellence of Christ, and on the other, as to our own ruined state. People drawn by grace and urged by the truth are convicted and converted to the Lord Jesus. Have you experienced this?

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: Ezra 8:31-9:4 · Proverbs 8:22-36