September 21, 2024

John 12.32 (NIV) 

“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”

My part is to share the gospel and God’s part is to make the gospel effective in the heart. My part is to model Christ and God’s part is to apply Christ.*

In the next verse, John 12.33, we are told that Jesus made this statement to show what kind of death was in store for him. In his death on the cross, he was lifted up from the earth; in his resurrection he was lifted up from the grave; and in his ascension, he was lifted up into heaven.*

But his words suggest another truth as well.* He doesn’t merely tell us, “If you lift me up, the story of the cross will draw men to me.” He says, “I will draw men to me.”* We concern ourselves with the effectiveness of our witness but Jesus tells us that it is our job to lift him up; it is his job to draw men to him. 

“All men” does not mean that everyone will accept his invitation; we have a free will and we are free to turn him down. As Jesus tells us, no one comes to the Father except through him. (John 14.6) We are commanded to exhibit Jesus Christ crucified* but God is still in charge of the outcome.

The drawing by Jesus is not selective and irresistible; it is universal and resistible.*