Examining John 12:32
The Drawing of the Son
The Drawing of the Son
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.
—John 12:32
Last Update: 2024, August 21
How are we to understand John 12:32? All without exception [or] all without distinction? Or better yet, “all who believe” (cf. John 1:12-13)? In this post I’ll show you why it’s either “all without distinction” or “all who believe.”
The Father and the Son are One
In John 10:30 we learn that both the Father and the Son are one in the work of redemption. The Son did not come to do His own will. He and the Father are one. With pagan deities, they are often in conflict with one another, but not with the Triune God. All those that are drawn to Christ are those whom the Father first gave to Him (cf. John 17:2). The Son says, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you… I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:16,19). They are the Son’s sovereign choice because they were first chosen by the Father:
All this is to say that the Father and the Son are one. The Son does not draw anyone to Himself that was not “known” by the Father (Abraham for example). Whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise (John 5:19, 6:37-38).
The Drawing is Effectual
The drawing, as in John 6:44 [cf. v.37], is effectual: They will come. If the “all” that will be drawn is “all without exception” then we will have universalism because the drawing of both the Father and the Son are effectual.
The Non-Reformed view presents us with a Jesus who draws all people without exception to Himself. However, this drawing is non-effectual, for people in their natural state find the Gospel to be foolishness and a stumbling block (1 Corinthians 1:23). So much so that God had to open Lydia’s heart while Paul was preaching. It is the reformed view that is biblical and consistent here. The drawing of the Father is effectual and so is the Son’s drawing. A perfect illustration of that are the two thieves.
The Gospel to the Jews and Greeks
The Crucifixion (Gospel) is in view here:
“This he said, signifying what death he should die.” (John 12:33).
The drawing of the Son must be interpreted with Verse 33 (the Gospel) in mind. Pay attention here: “…whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Does this mean that everyone (without exception) who calls on His name will be saved? Yes and No. Just eighteen verses later we learn that it’s not “everyone without exception,” but “everyone” or “as many as” (depending on translation) “the Lord our God will call to Himself” (Acts 2:39). The Non-Reformed view assumes that people in their natural state have a desire to call on the name of the LORD from the heart (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:3), denying the fact that the Gospel to the Jews is a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:23).
Romans 10:12-15 gives us a bit of extra information to work with:
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all…”
Everyone without distinction, not everyone without exception. We actually see this by going back to Acts 2:39 and read it carefully:
“For this promise is to you and to your children [Jews], and to all who are afar off [Gentiles], AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL.”
Acts 10:34-36 also gives us another hint stating that Jesus is “Lord of all” (just as Paul states in Romans 10:12) to show that there’s no distinction between Jews and Gentiles, and the context there is the conversion of Cornelius.
To better understand the context of John 12:32, you have to go back to Verse 20, “Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.” It’s interesting to note that just a verse before (v.19), the Pharisees were saying to one another, “…Look, the world has gone after Him.”
These Greek or Gentile worshipers sought Philip, and Philip in turn sought Andrew, and then both Philip and Andrew went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them starting in Verse 23. Before Jesus can reach the Gentiles, He first must die (cf. John 10:14-16, 11:51-52). And it’s in this context that He says, John 12:23: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified… And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Jews and Gentiles, the Israelites whom He came for, and the world of Gentiles. Everyone without distinction. This interpretation is further strengthened by John 4:39-42: “many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him… Now we believe… and know that this is indeed the Christ, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.”
Initially He was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel, and the Spirit “was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:39). But after His death, there will be no more distinction. Both Jews and Gentiles will be gathered because with the coming of the Spirit, Jesus will do greater works through us after He returned to the Father (cf. John 14:12-14). We can see a glimpse of that in Acts 2:7-11.
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation…
—Revelation 5:9
By His death, He will gather people from every nation: Jews and Gentiles. No distinction.
Christ Builds His Church
“The church has not chosen itself, nor called itself into existence.” —Steven Lawson
The Lord Jesus said that He will build His Church, and we see this most clearly in the book of Acts. The references are way too many to go through, but let us consider just a few: “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21). This further cements the belief that the drawing of the Son is effectual.
“that day about three thousand souls were added to them” Added by who? “the Lord added to the church…” “as many as the Lord” (not more or less) “our God will call” (Acts 2:39-41,47). God is the One building His Church and He does it through believers preaching the Gospel. This is one of the reasons Paul was chosen and sent. The key passage for this is found in Ephesians 2:11-18. Verse 17 states that Jesus…
“came and preached peace to you who were afar off [Gentiles] and to those who were near [Jews]. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”
Two things to keep in mind:
“you who were afar off” (Gentiles) and “those who were near” (Jews).
Jesus never visited Ephesus, how was it possible for Him to preach peace there or anywhere else after His resurrection? The answer is “God uses means.” God accomplishes His purposes through the preaching of His word, and He uses ordinary people like us. Wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, Christ is exalted or lifted up, and through the Gospel He is drawing all (Jews and Gentiles) to Himself.
In future posts, we’ll look at God in Acts. Paul, Lydia, Cornelius etc… were all saved by sovereign grace.