Peter McKenzie

Hi Cheryl. I see this post hasn’t been commented on for a while but it caught my attention. I have been debating some Calvinists on-line quite a bit lately – and in particular, the statements of Jesus in John 6. The point that I have made in that regard, is that the ones that the Father gave Jesus were the Jews who were believers prior to the cross. As individuals who physically existed (in that particular setting) it can be said that the care of them was passed from the Father to Jesus. In John 6, Jesus said He would lose none of them. In John 17 (recap of his ministry) He said He lost none – except for Judas. I mentioned to someone on a site that this type of “the Father drawing individuals” is a unique event and has ended. In that sense, the Father is no longer drawing anyone. The fact that Jesus arrived meant that the “looking-ahead-to-His-coming” type of drawing is now redundant for obvious reasons – He has come! In my estimation, the phrase “the ones the Father gave me” merely means that these ones were given to Jesus to care for during the time of His earthly ministry. The parallel of this passage with John 12:32 that often arises, is a different issue. The temporary individual-specific drawing of John 6:44 is about being a faithful Jew with right motivation for following Jesus – not following him to get free food. The universal, corporate drawing of Jesus in 12:32 is more about a universal atonement and is not individual-specific. Basically, if examined carefully, the passage infers that it is the crucifixion that draws all of mankind. I mentioned to one fellow that the verse is NOT saying, “When I have been lifted up from the cross at that time – that is the time that I will start to irresistibly draw people to myself”. Rather, He was referring to the universality of the fact that no one will be excluded any longer – all due to the ramifications of what the atonement means for all of mankind. All Gentiles are included as well. I am most interested in your thoughts re what I say about the temporary nature of the “Father’s drawing”. In my careful thinking about this, I came to realize that all my Christian life, I read this through a Calvinistic lens – taking this verse as a universal, absolute teaching of Jesus to the church. Now I have come to see it much differently. Blessings!