JOHN 6:36–40
THE FATHER’S WILL AND THE PROMISE OF RESURRECTION
BRIEF INTERPRETATION
Text – John 6:36–40
36 But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe.
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.
Historical and Jewish Context
In Jewish thought, God’s will was often understood through the Law and covenant faithfulness. Jesus redefines the will of the Father as centered on His own mission and person. The idea of resurrection “on the last day” reflects a belief held by many Jews, especially the Pharisees, in a final resurrection of the righteous. Jesus speaks within this shared belief but claims personal authority over resurrection, placing Himself at the heart of God’s saving plan.
Catholic Theological Perspective
This passage powerfully expresses the assurance of salvation rooted in God’s initiative. Catholic theology teaches that faith itself is a gift from the Father, drawing people to the Son. Jesus promises not to reject anyone who comes to Him, revealing God’s mercy and fidelity. The repeated promise of resurrection highlights the Church’s belief in bodily resurrection and eternal life. Salvation is presented as both a present reality through faith and a future fulfillment in the resurrection.
Parallels in Scripture
Isaiah 49:15–16 – God’s unfailing remembrance of His people.
Ezekiel 37:12–14 – Promise of resurrection and new life.
John 10:27–29 – No one can snatch them from Christ’s hand.
Romans 8:30 – God’s saving purpose fulfilled.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 – Resurrection at the Lord’s coming.
Key Terms
Will of the Father – God’s saving plan.
Come to me – Faithful response to grace.
Not reject – God’s unwavering mercy.
Eternal life – Life shared with God.
Raise on the last day – Bodily resurrection.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This Gospel is proclaimed in Ordinary Time and is frequently used in funeral liturgies to proclaim Christian hope in resurrection. The Church presents these words as a source of comfort and assurance of God’s faithfulness.
Conclusion
John 6:36–40 reveals the heart of God’s saving will: that all who believe in the Son may have eternal life and be raised on the last day. In Christ, salvation is secure, rooted in the Father’s love and promise.
Reflection
Do I trust that Christ will never reject me when I come to Him?
How does belief in the resurrection shape my hope?
Do I seek to live daily according to the Father’s will?
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, You came to do the Father’s will and to save all who come to You. Strengthen my faith, deepen my hope in the resurrection, and help me to live each day in trust and obedience. May I remain in You until You raise me on the last day. Amen.
DETAILED INTERPRETATION
INTRODUCTION
John 6:36–40 reveals the heart of Jesus’ mission and the certainty of the Father’s saving will. Jesus addresses the tension between divine gift and human response: though the Father gives people to the Son, not all choose to believe. Yet unbelief does not weaken God’s purpose. Jesus declares with assurance that He has come down from heaven not to do His own will, but the will of the Father who sent Him.
That will is clear and consoling: that none of those given to the Son be lost, and that all be raised on the last day. Jesus presents Himself as the faithful Guardian of those entrusted to Him. Coming to Jesus and believing in Him are not acts that risk abandonment; they place the believer within the secure promise of God. The passage culminates in a pledge repeated for emphasis—resurrection on the last day—anchoring present faith in future hope.
Jn 6:36 — “But I said to you that you have seen me, and yet do not believe.”
This verse introduces a sober and challenging note after the great declaration of Jesus as the Bread of Life. Despite revelation, presence, and signs, unbelief persists. Jesus names the tragedy of seeing without believing.
“But I said to you” signals a contrast. Jesus recalls what He has already made clear. The problem is not lack of information, but resistance of the heart. Revelation has been offered; response is lacking.
“You have seen me” is crucial. The crowd has witnessed Jesus’ works, heard His teaching, and encountered His presence. In John’s Gospel, seeing often leads to believing—but here it does not. External vision has not become interior faith.
“And yet do not believe” exposes the core issue. Belief is not compelled by miracles alone. Faith requires openness, humility, and grace. Seeing Christ physically does not guarantee spiritual recognition.
For believers today, this verse is a warning. We may be surrounded by signs of God’s presence—Scripture, sacraments, blessings—yet still struggle to trust fully. Familiarity can dull faith if the heart is not receptive.
Historical and Jewish Context
Many in Jesus’ time expected undeniable signs from God, yet history shows repeated resistance even after divine intervention, echoing Israel’s unbelief after the Exodus.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that faith is a gift of grace that requires free human assent. Miracles support faith but cannot replace the personal response of belief (cf. CCC 153–154).
Key Terms
Seen — external encounter
Do not believe — interior resistance
Yet — contrast between revelation and response
Conclusion
John 6:36 confronts the mystery of unbelief. Even in the presence of Christ, faith can be refused. True seeing is not with the eyes alone, but with the heart opened to grace.
Reflection
Where might I be seeing God’s work in my life but still hesitating to trust Him fully?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. Heal my resistance to faith, and help me move from seeing to believing, from knowing about You to trusting You completely. Amen.
Jn 6:37 — “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me.”
This verse reveals the deep assurance at the heart of Jesus’ mission. After confronting unbelief, Jesus speaks words of profound comfort. Divine sovereignty and human freedom meet in mercy. What the Father gives is welcomed, not excluded.
“Everything that the Father gives me” points to God’s initiative in salvation. Faith begins with the Father’s gracious action. Those who come to Jesus are not accidents or afterthoughts; they are already held within the Father’s loving plan.
“Will come to me” expresses certainty. God’s will is effective, not fragile. Those drawn by the Father are led to the Son, where salvation is made visible and accessible.
“And I will not reject anyone” is one of the most consoling promises in the Gospel. Jesus places no conditions of worthiness. Failure, weakness, past sin—none of these disqualify a person who truly comes to Him.
“Who comes to me” again emphasizes relationship. Coming to Jesus implies trust, repentance, and openness. The movement toward Christ is always met by acceptance, never refusal.
For believers today, this verse is a foundation of hope. No one is beyond Christ’s welcome. The Church, as His Body, is called to reflect this same openness and mercy.
Historical and Jewish Context
Jewish teachers often defined belonging through strict boundaries. Jesus radically expands belonging, grounding it not in human qualification but in the Father’s gracious gift.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ’s mission is universal and merciful. God desires the salvation of all, and Christ’s openness to all who come is central to the Gospel (cf. CCC 605, 846).
Key Terms
Father gives — divine initiative
Will come — certainty of grace
Not reject — unconditional welcome
Come to me — trusting faith
Conclusion
John 6:37 reveals the heart of Christ: open, faithful, and merciful. Those whom the Father draws are never turned away. In Jesus, divine love becomes a permanent refuge.
Reflection
Do I truly believe that Christ will not reject me when I come to Him with my weakness and need?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your promise never to reject those who come to You. Give me the courage to approach You with trust, and shape my heart to reflect Your mercy toward others. Amen.
Jn 6:38 — “For I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”
This verse reveals the inner heart of Jesus’ mission. After affirming His unfailing welcome, Jesus explains the source of that mercy: perfect obedience to the Father. His descent from heaven is not for self-glory, but for loving surrender.
“For I came down from heaven” affirms Jesus’ divine origin. He is not merely a prophet raised up from earth, but the eternal Son who enters human history. The language echoes the Incarnation—God freely choosing to dwell among humanity.
“Not to do my own will” expresses radical humility. Though equal with the Father, Jesus does not act independently. His life is marked by self-giving obedience. This is not loss of freedom, but the perfection of love.
“But the will of the one who sent me” defines Jesus’ identity as the Sent One. The Father’s will is the salvation of humanity, and Jesus aligns Himself completely with that purpose. His mission, teaching, miracles, and sacrifice all flow from this obedience.
For believers today, this verse offers a model of discipleship. True freedom is not found in self-assertion, but in trusting alignment with God’s will. Following Christ means learning to say, with Him, “not my will, but Yours.”
Historical and Jewish Context
In Jewish tradition, prophets were sent by God to speak and act on His behalf. Jesus fulfills and surpasses this role, revealing a unique unity between Sender and Sent.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ’s obedience unto death restores humanity’s broken relationship with God. His perfect submission heals the disobedience of sin and opens the way to salvation (cf. CCC 606–609).
Key Terms
Came down from heaven — incarnation
Not my own will — perfect obedience
The one who sent me — the Father’s authority
Conclusion
John 6:38 reveals that salvation flows from Christ’s loving obedience. The Bread of Life is given because the Son perfectly fulfills the Father’s will for the life of the world.
Reflection
Am I willing to align my will with God’s, even when it challenges my preferences or comfort?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach me the freedom of obedience. Help me trust the Father’s will as You did, and shape my life according to His loving purpose. Amen.
Jn 6:39 — “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.”
This verse unveils the goal of Christ’s mission: preservation and resurrection. Jesus reveals the Father’s will not as judgment first, but as saving fidelity. What God gives is not discarded; it is guarded and glorified.
“And this is the will of the one who sent me” grounds salvation in the Father’s loving intention. Redemption is not an afterthought—it is the deliberate purpose of God, entrusted to the Son.
“That I should not lose anything” expresses absolute care. Nothing given to Christ is expendable. Each person matters. Salvation is not selective or careless; it is attentive and personal.
“Of what he gave me” again emphasizes divine initiative. Belonging to Christ begins with the Father’s gift, not human merit. Our security rests in God’s faithfulness, not our perfection.
“But that I should raise it” shifts the focus to victory over death. Jesus does not merely preserve life; He restores it. Resurrection is central, not symbolic.
“On the last day” points to the future fulfillment of salvation. History is moving toward a definitive moment when Christ will complete His saving work. Hope is anchored not only in the present, but in what is yet to come.
For believers today, this verse offers deep assurance. Our lives are held within Christ’s mission. Even death cannot undo what the Father has entrusted to the Son.
Historical and Jewish Context
Belief in the resurrection of the dead was affirmed by many Jewish groups, especially the Pharisees. Jesus confirms this hope but places Himself at its center.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ will raise the faithful on the last day. This promise is closely linked to Eucharistic communion, which is a pledge of future glory (cf. CCC 994, 1402–1405).
Key Terms
Will of the Father — saving intention
Not lose anything — divine preservation
Raise it — bodily resurrection
Last day — final fulfillment
Conclusion
John 6:39 reveals a salvation that is careful, complete, and eternal. The Father wills that none be lost, and the Son fulfills that will by raising His own to life everlasting.
Reflection
Do I trust that my life—now and forever—is securely held in Christ’s saving mission?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for guarding what the Father has given You. Strengthen my hope in the resurrection, and help me live today with confidence in the life You promise on the last day. Amen.
Jn 6:40 — “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.”
This verse brings the Father’s saving will into clear focus. Jesus unites revelation, faith, eternal life, and resurrection into a single promise. Salvation is both present and future, personal and universal.
“For this is the will of my Father” emphasizes divine intention. Eternal life is not reserved for a few; it is the Father’s desire for all. God’s will is merciful, inclusive, and life-giving.
“That everyone” expands the horizon. No ethnic, social, or moral boundary limits God’s invitation. The offer of salvation is universal, though it must be freely received.
“Who sees the Son” goes beyond physical sight. To “see” in John’s Gospel means to recognize, perceive, and acknowledge Jesus’ true identity. Seeing involves openness of heart as much as clarity of mind.
“And believes in him” identifies faith as the decisive response. Belief unites the person to Christ, allowing divine life to flow. Faith is the bridge between revelation and salvation.
“May have eternal life” affirms that eternal life begins now. It is not only a future reward, but a present participation in God’s own life through Christ.
“And I shall raise him on the last day” completes the promise. What begins in faith and grace will end in resurrection and glory. Death does not have the final word.
For believers today, this verse offers profound hope and assurance. Faith in Christ anchors life in eternity, even amid suffering and mortality.
Historical and Jewish Context
Seeing and believing were central themes in Jewish faith, often linked to God’s saving acts. Jesus fulfills these themes by making Himself the object of saving faith.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that faith in Christ leads to eternal life, nourished through the sacraments and fulfilled in the resurrection of the body (cf. CCC 1001, 1336).
Key Terms
Will of the Father — universal salvation
Sees the Son — spiritual recognition
Believes — trusting faith
Eternal life — participation in divine life
Last day — resurrection and fulfillment
Conclusion
John 6:40 summarizes the Gospel promise: to see Christ, believe in Him, live eternally, and rise in glory. This is the Father’s will and the Son’s mission.
Reflection
Do I truly live as one who believes in Christ and hopes in the resurrection on the last day?
Prayer
Father of mercy, thank You for Your will that all may have life through Your Son. Strengthen my faith in Jesus, deepen my hope in the resurrection, and help me live each day anchored in eternal life. Amen.
CONCLUSION
For believers today, John 6:36–40 offers profound assurance. Salvation is not grounded in human consistency or strength, but in the Father’s will and the Son’s obedience. To belong to Christ is to be held securely within God’s saving plan. Faith may struggle, but God’s purpose does not waver.
At the same time, this passage shapes Christian hope. Eternal life is not only spiritual communion now, but bodily resurrection promised for the future. Jesus binds present belief to future glory. Christian life is lived with confidence, not fear—trusting that the One who receives us will never cast us out and will raise us up on the last day.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You came to accomplish the Father’s saving will and to guard all who come to You. Strengthen our faith when we struggle to believe, and deepen our trust in Your promise. Keep us secure in Your love and faithful to the hope You give. May we live each day confident that we belong to You, and may the promise of resurrection sustain us until we are raised to life with You in glory. Amen.