John 6:40
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus emphasizes that eternal life isn't just about seeing Him, but about contemplating and truly believing in Him. This act of seeing and believing is presented not as an option, but as the very condition of the Father's will for receiving life and resurrection.
Jesus has just spoken about how all those given to Him by the Father will come to Him and that He will not lose any of them, raising them up on the last day. He clarifies that this isn't a passive process, but rather it is the Father's will that everyone who truly looks upon and believes in the Son receives eternal life and will be raised on the last day. This response comes after the crowds questioned Him, showing a disconnect between their physical hunger for bread and Jesus' offer of Himself as the true spiritual bread of life.
Jesus uses a specific word for 'seeing' here. It's not just a casual glance, but something much deeper.
The Greek word used for 'sees' (theōrōn) implies more than a physical sight. It means to behold, to contemplate, to gaze upon with intent. This is crucial because many people saw Jesus – they witnessed His miracles and heard His words – but they didn't truly see Him for who He was.
Think of it like this:
Jesus contrasts this with those who saw Him but did not believe (John 6:36). This earnest contemplation is the necessary first step before genuine belief can take root.
What's the action that unlocks the promise of eternal life? It's not complicated, but it's profound.
The verse clearly links 'believes in him' directly to the promise of eternal life and resurrection on the last day. This isn't just intellectual agreement; it's a deep trust and reliance on Jesus.
This belief is presented as:
This belief is active – it's coming to Jesus, trusting Him, and allowing His life to sustain ours, just as bread sustains the body.
Understand the original words
zōēn aiōnion · Greek Noun phrase
The divine life of God that begins for the believer at the point of faith and continues into eternity; it is defined by a restored, living relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
huios · Greek Noun
The Second Person of the Trinity, the incarnate Word, who is both fully God and fully man, through whom salvation is exclusively mediated.
This passage directly echoes the promise of eternal life through belief in the Son, emphasizing God's love as the motivation for sending Jesus for salvation.
1 John 5:11-12This passage reinforces the concept that true belief in Jesus brings possession of eternal life, directly paralleling the promise in John 6:40.
Romans 8:28-30This passage speaks about God's foreknowledge and predestination, which is a foundational concept behind Jesus' assurance that those given to Him will be raised up, aligning with the Father's will.
Philippians 3:20-21This verse speaks of the believer's future resurrection and transformation through Christ's power, directly linking to Jesus' promise to raise believers up on the last day.
Acts 4:12This passage highlights that salvation is found only in Jesus, underscoring the exclusivity of belief in Him as the path to eternal life mentioned in John 6:40.
vincentJohn 6:40: "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."
And this (δέ)The best texts read γὰρ, for. There is a logical connection between the last sentence and the following. The Father's will in preserving and raising up that which he has given to the Son, includes in its fulfillment the believing contemplation of the Son and its issue in eternal life.Of Him that sent m…
calvinJohn 6:34-40: "Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread."
- They said therefore to him, Lord, give us always this bread. 35. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth in me shall never thirst. 36. But I have told you that you have also seen me and do not believe. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will not cast out; 38. For I came down from heaven, not to do my own w…
Jesus emphasizes that eternal life isn't just about seeing Him, but about contemplating and truly believing in Him. This act of seeing and believing is presented not as an option, but as the very condition of the Father's will for receiving life and resurrection.
Jesus has just spoken about how all those given to Him by the Father will come to Him and that He will not lose any of them, raising them up on the last day. He clarifies that this isn't a passive process, but rather it is the Father's will that everyone who truly looks upon and believes in the Son receives eternal life and will be raised on the last day. This response comes after the crowds questioned Him, showing a disconnect between their physical hunger for bread and Jesus' offer of Himself as the true spiritual bread of life.
Jesus has just spoken about how all those given to Him by the Father will come to Him and that He will not lose any of them, raising them up on the last day. He clarifies that this isn't a passive process, but rather it is the Father's will that everyone who truly looks upon and believes in the Son receives eternal life and will be raised on the last day. This response comes after the crowds questioned Him, showing a disconnect between their physical hunger for bread and Jesus' offer of Himself as the true spiritual bread of life.
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Jesus doesn't just offer a general hope; He makes a personal commitment to every believer.
The final phrase, 'and I will raise him up on the last day,' is a powerful personal declaration from Jesus. It’s not just 'they will be raised,' but ' I will raise him up.'
This highlights:
This promise anchors our faith not just in a future event, but in the trustworthy person of Jesus.
"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”" — Jesus emphasizes that eternal life isn't just about seeing Him, but about contemplating and truly believing in Him. This act of seeing and believing is presented not as an option, but as the very…
