Not My Will, But His: An Exegetical Insight on John 6:38

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The Mission of the Messiah and the Model of Perfect Submission

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” — John 6:38

John 6 is one of the most theologically rich and profoundly revealing chapters in the Gospel of John. It begins with the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, continues with Jesus walking on water, and culminates in His Bread of Life discourse—a sermon that both captivated and scandalized His audience. Central to this discourse is a bold and earth-shaking declaration: Jesus has come down from heaven. But what follows in verse 38 defines the purpose of His descent, and the heart of His mission: “not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

This brief but potent verse unveils the incarnation’s true purpose, cuts through human pride, and presents the believer with a perfect model of obedience. The Son of God—eternal, glorious, and divine—did not come to earth to fulfill personal ambition, but to accomplish the predetermined purpose of His Father. In saying this, Jesus affirms both His heavenly origin and His submissive role in the plan of redemption. He is not an independent operator; He is the faithful Servant, the obedient Son, the appointed Savior sent by Jehovah to execute the divine will with perfect faithfulness.

John 6:38 speaks to the doctrine of Christ, the nature of divine unity, the humility of the incarnation, and the believer’s calling to follow in His steps. It demolishes any notion of autonomy in spiritual service and challenges every Christian to evaluate their own life in light of the Messiah’s supreme submission. Let us now examine each phrase of this powerful verse and let its truth shape our understanding of Christ’s mission and our own.

“For I have come down from heaven…”

This opening phrase establishes the origin of Jesus Christ—not Bethlehem, not Nazareth, not the Jordan River—but heaven itself. The Greek phrase καταβέβηκα ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (katabebēka apo tou ouranou) literally means “I have descended out of heaven.” This is not poetic exaggeration; it is an assertion of preexistence and divine origin. Jesus did not begin to exist at conception or birth; He existed eternally with the Father (John 1:1–2) and “was in the form of God” (Philippians 2:6) before taking on flesh.

To say He “came down” is to affirm the incarnation—the voluntary act by which the eternal Son took on human nature (John 1:14), entered time and space, and submitted Himself to human limitations. This phrase also echoes the imagery of manna “coming down from heaven” in the wilderness, which Jesus uses later in John 6 to describe Himself as the true Bread of Life (John 6:51).

The descent of Jesus from heaven was not arbitrary or reactive. It was a mission. He came to fulfill a task appointed by the Father. This speaks of divine purpose and unity in the Godhead. It also reminds us that Jesus is not like us—He is from above, we are from below (John 8:23). His teaching, authority, and mission are all rooted in His heavenly origin. And because He came from heaven, His words are not open to revision, and His will is not autonomous. He is God’s perfect messenger, revealing God’s perfect will.

“…not to do my own will…”

This phrase brings us to the heart of Jesus’ humility. Though eternally divine, Jesus did not come to act independently or assert personal agendas. The Greek construction οὐχ ἵνα ποιῶ τὸ θέλημα τὸ ἐμὸν (ouch hina poiō to thelēma to emon) means “not in order that I might do my own will.” There is a deliberate contrast: Jesus does have a will, but He does not exercise it independently. He lays it down in submission to the Father.

This truth aligns perfectly with Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane: “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Though sinless, He still possessed a human will, capable of desiring relief from suffering, yet He refused to act apart from the Father’s plan. This is not conflict within the Godhead, but submission within the incarnate Christ, who subjected His will to the Father’s in perfect obedience.

Theologically, this reinforces the reality of the Trinity’s functional harmony. The Father sends, the Son submits, and the Spirit glorifies (John 16:14). There is no rivalry, no rebellion, no contradiction—only perfect unity in purpose and execution. Jesus’ refusal to do His own will demonstrates His moral perfection, His role as the second Adam (who obeyed where the first disobeyed), and His commitment to fulfilling every word the Father gave Him (John 17:4).

For believers, this is a call to die to self-will. In a culture that prizes personal autonomy, self-expression, and independence, Jesus’ example stands in holy opposition. We are not here to do our will. The Christian life is not about fulfilling personal dreams, but submitting to the divine will revealed in Scripture. Jesus came not to do His own will—neither must we.

“…but the will of him who sent me.”

This final clause is the climax: Jesus came with a mission, commissioned by “him who sent me”—a phrase Jesus uses over 30 times in the Gospel of John to refer to the Father. His entire ministry—His teachings, miracles, suffering, death, resurrection, and exaltation—was according to the Father’s predetermined will (Acts 2:23). This will was not partial or evolving; it was comprehensive and redemptive.

The “will” of the Father (Greek: θέλημα, thelēma) refers to His sovereign intention and desire. In context, it is the will that lost sinners be saved through the Son (John 6:39–40), that Christ should not lose any whom the Father gives Him, and that eternal life be granted through faith. Jesus’ entire purpose was to enact the Father’s will, not to supplement or amend it.

This is why Jesus could say, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34). Obedience was not drudgery—it was His joy. It was His sustenance. To know the will of God and to do it was not burdensome, because His heart was set on pleasing the Father (John 8:29).

Here, Jesus models perfect servant-hood. He is the ultimate δοῦλος (doulos, servant/slave), who, though equal with God, emptied Himself to fulfill a role of submission and sacrifice (Philippians 2:6–8). He is not an unwilling Savior but a sent one, joyfully accomplishing the redemptive will of the One who commissioned Him.

Application: The Pattern of Submission in the Christian Life

John 6:38 does more than describe Jesus’ mission—it sets a pattern for how every believer is to live:

Recognize Your Origin in God’s Call – While we do not descend from heaven, those in Christ are born from above (John 3:3–5). Our lives have purpose, direction, and divine appointment. We do not exist for ourselves.
Reject Autonomy – Just as Jesus did not come to do His own will, neither should we. Every decision, every ambition, every relationship must be examined through the lens of God’s will. This requires humility, prayer, and scriptural conviction.
Embrace God’s Will as Our Food – Like Christ, our sustenance should be doing the will of the Father. This means studying His Word, obeying His commands, submitting to His discipline, and trusting His providence.
Follow Christ’s Example in Suffering – Jesus submitted to the Father even when it led to death on a cross. We must not interpret suffering as a sign of abandonment, but as a potential part of our obedience. The will of God may involve hardship, but it always leads to glory.

Conclusion: A Savior Who Submitted—and Calls Us to Follow

John 6:38 is a verse of quiet majesty. It reminds us who Jesus is, where He came from, and why He came. He is the eternal Son, sent from heaven, obedient in every respect, unwavering in His purpose, and joyful in His submission to the will of the Father. He did not assert His independence; He laid down His will. He did not seek His own glory; He sought the will of the One who sent Him.

This is our Savior. And this is our model.

May we who follow Him daily echo His words:
“Not my will, but Yours be done.”
For the will of God is not only perfect—it is the very path to life everlasting (Romans 12:2).

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).