“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” John 12:32
Scripture is very plain and clear about the absolute need of man, especially when it comes to knowing God, and the things of God. It reveals to mankind that God, Christ, is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Why is this truth so very important? We discover the answer first in the creation when we discover that were it not for the initiative of God, the world would not have been created, time would not have begun, and man would never have existed. In the same way, and perhaps to a greater extent, we discover this truth in the salvation of a single soul, for, as Paul puts it, man is born dead in sins, without God and without hope in this world. This situation would be a hopeless one in the face of eternity and total godlessness were it not for the initiative that God took, not only to create man “by water,” but by the Spirit. Jesus made this very clear to Nicodemus when he said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:5) But where does being born of the Spirit begin? We know that physical birth begins in the womb of the mother, but how does God work to bring about the spiritual birth of a lost, helpless soul?
In John’s gospel, he wrote of this matter by declaring Jesus’s words: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (Jn. 6:44) The central point here is that the work of God in salvation, especially with regard to the new birth, can only be done by God Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus, a very learned man of his day, both in the Scriptures and history, had difficulty grasping the concept of the absolute need and dependence of man upon God, and God’s absolute capacity and willingness to save the sinner. Nicodemus was blocked in his mind because he could not understand “how” the new birth by the Spirit could be accomplished. Nicodemus was drawn to Christ, so that he could understand God’s only way which was by faith.
Later on in John’s gospel, he writes again of this matter of being drawn by God to Christ. Jesus’ words were: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” (12:32) Here is the universal appeal of God to mankind to respond to His overtures of mercy and grace. Here is the revelation of His willingness to save to the uttermost all who would truly come, trusting in Christ. But how does one come? How does one know that God is working, not only to save the soul, but to “will and to do of His good pleasure” in the life?
In Charles Wesley’s great hymn, “And Can It Be,” he writes: “And can it be that I should gain, an interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? AMAZING LOVE! How can it be, that Thou my God, shouldst die for me?” The revelation of the love of God to the heart, and the “interest,” even the thought in the heart of being attracted to, or drawn to Christ, is the work of the Spirit of God. No one can come to Christ, except the Father draw him. This is the Father’s work, and this He will do. To the soul “dead in sin and nature’s night,” Wesley writes that He “diffused a quickening (life-giving) ray (of light). I woke; the dungeon flamed with light. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.” This is the God we adore, who passes by, sees us in our sin and about to die, then draws our hearts to Christ to save.
Dear Father, Draw us to Thyself. In Jesus’ name, Amen.