I will in no wise cast out
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”John 6:37
Reflection
Jesus had just spoken of the bread of life, and not everyone liked what they heard. Many murmured, and some began to walk away. It is in this setting that He declares: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." There are two halves to the verse. In the first, the Father gives people to the Son, and they come. In the second, whoever comes is received. It is a combination of divine initiative and human response, and Jesus does not explain how the two fit together. What He does offer is a guarantee.
The guarantee lies in the expression "in no wise". In the original, it is a double negative, the strongest way of saying "by no means". Jesus does not say "probably I will not cast out", nor "only if you behave". He says that, in no wise, will whoever comes to Him be rejected. Many people carry the fear that God will, at some point, give up on them: after a repeated sin, after many years away, after a disappointment. This verse answers that fear with one of the firmest statements in the whole Bible.
And who is "him that cometh"? Anyone. Jesus did not ask them to wash before arriving. He received sinners, ate with them, touched lepers, welcomed those whom others pushed away. In the parable of the prodigal son, the father runs to meet the son who returns dirty and humbled. To come to Jesus is simply to turn toward Him, with trust, just as one is. The door has no screening at the entrance. What each one brings is only need, and it is precisely need that He receives.
If you feel too unworthy, read this verse aloud, putting in your name: "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." And if you have drifted, come back today, with a short and true prayer: "Lord, I have come back." Then let that same posture shape your relationship with others: the church and the home should be places where whoever arrives is not cast out, but welcomed. Whoever has been received by Christ receives others with the same heart.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You that You in no wise cast out whoever comes to You. I come today just as I am, with my failings and my weariness. Receive me, cleanse me and establish me in You. Teach me to welcome others as You welcomed me. Amen.
Put it into practice
Read this verse aloud, putting in your name, and make a short prayer of return to Jesus, even if you have been away. Then welcome today someone who is usually left out.
To reflect on
Is there anything that makes you feel Jesus might cast you out, and what does this verse say about it?
Bible text: King James Version (public domain).