An Exegetical And Theological Analysis Of John 6:32-58

          "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out... No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:37, 44, KJV)

          This passage of John's gospel narrative is known as the Bread of Life Discourse. Jesus Christ had delivered a speech at a Synagogue in Capernaum. In this sermon, He likened bread and wine to His body and blood to articulate the point to His unbelieving Jewish audience that He was indeed their promised Messiah, who would offer Himself up as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins.

          "I am that bread of life." (John 6:48, KJV)

          It should be noted that Christ chose not to fully reveal Himself to all members of society during much of His earthly ministry. Jesus did this so that He could complete His earthly mission. By carefully choosing His audience and timing, He ensured that His message would reach those whose hearts were prepared to receive it, thereby facilitating the fulfillment of prophetic scripture and God’s redemptive plan.

          The Jews to whom Christ spoke were not born with a seared conscience against God. This is not a matter of people being born hated by God and predestined to eternal condemnation since the timing of creation. The context of John 6:32-58 nowhere indicates an irresistible calling of the human will.

          "And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." (John 5:40, KJV)

          More precisely, these people willfully turned their backs against God. They wanted to be self-righteous. They wanted to be arrogant. They wanted their own sinful lifestyles. They wanted to rebel against the God who created them. In short, this was a totally voluntary hardening of the human heart by sin, which God allows. The hardening of their hearts was a consequence of their own choices and desires, not an arbitrary decree from God.

          The mission of Christ was accomplished through the unbelief of Israel. The Jews were handed over to their vices, which explains why they rejected Him. This willful blinding of the conscience was never meant to be permanent, for God has always wanted to save His chosen nation Israel.

          "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44, KJV)

          The Father draws the sinner who listens and learns (John 6:45). We must accept the truth of the gospel in order to be saved (Romans 10:14-17). We have the responsibility of hearing, knowing, and understanding the revealed truths of God. We must accept the forgiveness of God as proclaimed through the gospel. This divine drawing is contingent upon the individual's openness to God's teachings and their willingness to embrace the truth.

          Calvinists are guilty of limiting God when they argue that He cannot foreknow what He did not foreordain. He is sovereign enough to give us the free will to accept or reject Him. He can do whatever He wants. He is limited by nothing. The fact of the matter is that the Calvinists have misconstrued the meaning texts such as John 6:37 and John 6:44 to fit their own preconceived theological conclusions.

          "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32, KJV)

          In John 6:32-58, Jesus Christ was simply trying to get the Jews to see their disconnect from God. They did not truly love the Father because they rejected the Son. One cannot come to have a true relationship with the Father without also believing on the Son. Nobody can come to Christ without first hearing and accepting the truth of the gospel. This highlights the necessity of personal faith and acceptance of Christ’s message for true spiritual reconciliation with God.

          The unbelieving Jews were under spiritual condemnation. Their hearts were not right with God. The twelve apostles, however, were drawn by the Father through the miracles and sound teachings of Christ. Their hearts were open to God. As a result, those obedient to the Father also chose to follow the Son. As a result of the crucifixion, God wants to draw everybody to salvation through faith in Him.

          "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all." (Romans 11:32, KJV)

          The mission of Christ was always meant to be inclusive, seeking to draw all individuals to salvation through faith in Him. By emphasizing the universality of God's call, we can better understand the inclusive nature of the gospel message.