"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." - Jesus
It is a fascinating thing Jesus says here (John 6:44) of the work of the Father. It is undoubtedly the work of God to enable humans to believe in things spiritual. Nobody who is a follower of Christ would argue any bit otherwise. God played some role in initiating something such that we might engage in this relationship with Him. However, there is a distinction we must make. Is God drawing everyone, and some choose to believe and follow? Or is Jesus concluding that God draws some, and those He draws come (believe)? Fortunately Jesus speaks further and unpacks matters that tell us just who it is God is drawing.
There is little Jesus says in this episode that isn't controversial. He has been talking about Himself as the bread (6:35), as one sent from heaven (6:42, 51), and whose flesh and blood these people must consume if they are to live (6:53). It is clearly stirring controversy among those who listen, after all the Jews "grumbled" about him (6:41), and later "disputed" what He was saying (6:51). So offensive was the language of Jesus that these disciples of His were "grumbling" (6:61). And a number of them are so disturbed by His teaching that they ultimately left.
Jesus tells His listeners that the words He is speaking are "spirit and life" (6:63). That isn't so controversial. But then He says, "There are some of you who do not believe" (6:64). John adds a short commentary here that Jesus knew those who didn't believe, and even who it was who would betray Him, an obvious reference to Judas (6:65). But why don't they believe? Peter, one who does believe, later gives this great testimony to the fact that these very words are what convinced him to stay with Jesus and believe Jesus is the Holy One of God (6:68-69). So why don't these people believe who Jesus talks to very directly about their disbelief?
The fact is John's commentary in the second half of verse 64 breaks up the flow of Jesus' idea. If we track Jesus' thoughts uninterrupted reads, "But there are some of you who do not believe. This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." So then, Jesus very directly answers the question about what God is doing and who He is drawing. For these people who don't believe, it is because God has not drawn them. Further, in 6:37 He says, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." So how is it then that anyone could conclude the Father is drawing everyone, if there are some who don't believe, since Jesus says here that everyone God draws will come?
The fact is there are people, even in this story who don't believe. There is Judas who was ultimately "going to betray Him" who doesn't believe (6:71). The words of Jesus make it clear that the Father isn't drawing everyone. If He were drawing everyone there would be no one who didn't believe. But there are some, a lot who don't believe, and this is because God hasn't drawn them.
This isn't bad news. This is the good news. If you are in Christ, this is phenomenal news. Fact of the matter is, every one of us deserves nothing of the grace, goodness, everlasting life from God. So His drawing anyone to faith in Christ unto salvation is astonishing. Let that take your breath away. He is not required to draw anyone. Secondly, God is drawing some to Himself. Don't lose sight of this amidst what you might otherwise view as injustice. Allow the first observation to remind you what you, I, and everyone else ISN'T OWED. But still God draws some. And if He draws them, they will come. Thirdly, it is through the proclamation of the glorious gospel of Christ, these words, that God is drawing people. Share this message. It will not (necessarily) be that everyone who hears will believe. But it will be that those who do believe will believe on account of the Word of Christ. So share it, and share it boldly.
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