John 6:41-44, The Son of Joseph?

41So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

The people around Jesus cannot believe Jesus because they know his parents—the only mention of Joseph, by the way, in John’s gospel. The phrase “from heaven” is repeated for the sixth and seventh times in these verses, making the point of the origin and divinity of Jesus. Jesus’ response to them should be disconcerting. He says that only the Father can enable someone to come to the Son. Supernatural intervention is necessary.

Here we should be thinking about Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep in which the shepherd goes and finds the sheep. The sheep does not come naturally to the shepherd. That is the definition of “lostness.” Instead, the shepherd purposefully pursues and finds the sheep. Or we could think of Adam and Eve after eating from the forbidden tree. They hide from God, yet he seeks and finds them. Jesus teaches the people that God is not removed from their situation but is actively involved. Jesus’ mission is to seek the lost sheep of Israel. He is doing just this. Yet some are missing out.

Do you remember a time you were lost to God, and he sought you out? Reflect on the Savior who is active in your life and give him praise.