I will draw everyone to myself.

And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. John 12:32

This is such a powerful and mind-blowing statement that it stuck in my mind for several days.

In this context of John 12, Jesus was talking about this moment of glory which was fast approaching. He mentioned the necessity for a seed to die/desintegrate for it to produce new crops. If that seed remained whole, it would remain alone. Jesus’ vision was a huge harvest/posterity that will occur as a result of His death (Rom. 5:19, Is. 53:10)

“Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. ²⁶ Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. “

“Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” Rom. 5:19

“But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.” Is. 53:10

This said, Jesus explained that those who love their life in this world will lose it but those who do not care of the comfort of this life i.e. die to self will have it for eternity. However, He puts a condition stating that if anyone wants to serve him, that person must follow Him. Being willing to serve Jesus is one thing and many do so in their own ways. However, many intently try to serve Him but do not follow Him. Many call Him Lord but few do what He says (Luke 6:45). When I go to a restaurant, I am served by the waiter but will that waiter commit himself to follow me where I go?

“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. ³⁵ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? ³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34

Mark 8:37 is a remarkable verse which distinguishes who really a Christian is irrespective of denomination. Are you a follower of Jesus or just doing a lot of things for Him without following Him?

Then we see a promise of Jesus, He will work to attract all men unto Him for He wants all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:3, John 3, 1 John 2:2). But we know that not all men want to be saved for they prefer their evil deeds.

We were all once in darkness like stranded sheep following our own ways. We were naturally inclined to sin due to the weaknesses of our flesh and not actively seeking God (Is 53:6, Rom.310)

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”

Unless the gospel of light shone in our heart (2 Cor. 4:4) we would still be darkness.

How then can men find the true living God, unless the gospel is preached to them ( Romans 10:14)? Nature itself testifies the glory of God (Rom. 1:20) but man is still lost and is hardly finding its way to God.

Thanks be to Jesus who made this promise that when He would be exalted up to heaven, He will purposefully work to attract all men to Him. The symbolic image of the elevated bronze snake used by Jesus illustrates perfectly how He intended to draw all men unto Him(not just a few elects).

“Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!”  So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!” Num. 21:8

The illustration Jesus in John 3:14 can be subject to different interpretation. For example, the snake deceived Adam in Eden and all its posterity became spiritually dead. The Second Adam came and crushed the head of the snake (Gen. 3:15) when He died on the cross. All those who looked at the cross would be healed from the serpent’s venom – sin.

^” And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” John 12:32

The Greek word helkysō translated as “draw” literally means to try to pull, persuade or drag.

How many and who would have been saved unless Jesus drew all men unto Him? Why then are not all men saved if God wants all men to be saved and Jesus attract all men to Him? Simply because men refuse to believe (John 3:19) because their deeds are evil.

The Great Commission was given for that purpose i.e. spread the Good News. God is not responsible if man reject the Son, nor was Moses responsible if some men refused to look at the bronze serpent to be healed.

We read in the book of revelation where God says: “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Rev. 3:20

God is actively working to convict hearts but usually does so through human vessels – His followers.

I once heard an evangelist use Mat. 24:14 and say that the day all creatures will hear the gospel, that day will initiate the return of Jesus. Not sure to what extent he was right. He pleaded to preach the gospel as much as we could to hasten the return of Jesus.