43 "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
I am reminded of the prophet Jeremiah’s words regarding the Father drawing His people with cords of loving-kindness even as they wallowed in their iniquities – God’s motivation for restoration always being His everlasting love:
3 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jer 31:3 (NIV)
And again we find in Hosea:
4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:4 (NIV)
This drawing or wooing by God’s love towards men is not solely for a few but for all. “All”
is a wonderfully inclusive word is it not? It is certainly the Father’s desire for none to perish and for all to come to repentance – the very familiar John 3:16-17 plainly attests to that fact yet sadly, many turn a cold shoulder and deaf ear to His drawing and wooing of everlasting love and human kindness:
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NIV)
We find later in the gospel of John the words of Jesus again emphasizing His desire towards drawing all men:
32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." John 12:32 (NIV)
The crucifixion of Jesus opened the way for all men to come to the Father. Yet Christ will never drive a soul by force rather He draws the soul that is willing by love. Just as His Father, Jesus draws and woos all men to Him. Christ is most willing and most able to help us as He has lovingly spoken the Word that none will seek His face in vain. This loving draw proceeds His being lifted up from this earth - the great increase of the church being the blessed consequence of the cross of Christ. Indeed, the Lord has satisfied our punishment for those who believe in Him as their Surety and He will raise them up – enabling them to stand in the presence of Almighty God clothed in Jesus’ righteousness alone.
“I am beginning now to see how radically the character of my spiritual journey will change when I no longer think of God as hiding out and making it difficult as possible for me to find him, but, instead, as the one who is looking for me while I am doing the hiding.” Henri Nouwen
17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph 3:17 (NIV)
“If you are seeking after God, you may be sure of this: God is seeking you much more. He is the Lover, and you are His beloved. He has promised Himself to you.” John of the Cross
Jesus also gives us the glorious promise in today’s verses that we will be taught by God. We are told in Jeremiah that He will put the law in our minds and write it on our hearts - Isaiah adding that our sons would be also taught by the Lord, their peace being great. This, of course, comes into fruition through the indwelling of the precious Holy Spirit as He opens the eyes of our understanding to the truth of God’s Word. As we study the Scriptures He teaches us all things:
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 (NIV)
The directives from Jesus for us today are to “Listen ”, “Learn ” and “Come ”. Quite literally, the definitions of these words according to the New Testament Lexical Aids of the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible being: “To hear with attention, acknowledge, understand, heed and obey – receiving and accepting what is said. To be informed, comprehending and appropriating Truth. To become related to Jesus is to know Him, and knowing Him is to know His teaching and abide by it.” And the desire of both Father and the Son is for us to “Come ”.
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 (NIV)