John 6:44

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

No man {G3762} can {G1410} come {G2064} to {G4314} me {G3165}, except {G3362} the Father {G3962} which {G3588} hath sent {G3992} me {G3165} draw {G1670} him {G846}: and {G2532} I {G1473} will raise {G450} him {G846} up {G450} at the last {G2078} day {G2250}.

Complete Jewish Bible

No one can come to me unless the Father — the One who sent me — draws him. And I will raise him up on the Last Day.

Berean Standard Bible

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

American Standard Version

No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 6:44 is a pivotal declaration by Jesus, asserting that spiritual access to Him is not a matter of human will or ability alone, but is fundamentally initiated by the divine drawing of the Father. This profound truth underscores God's sovereign grace in salvation, ensuring that those whom the Father draws to His Son will ultimately be raised to eternal life at the consummation of all things. It reveals a beautiful interplay between divine initiative and human response, culminating in the promise of resurrection.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Jesus' extensive "Bread of Life" discourse in [John chapter 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life Discourse"), delivered in the synagogue at Capernaum. Following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and Jesus' walking on water, the crowds pursued Him, seeking more physical sustenance. Jesus uses this opportunity to pivot from physical bread to Himself as the true spiritual bread that gives life. The discourse reveals a growing tension between Jesus' spiritual claims and the crowd's materialistic understanding. Verses like [John 6:41-42](/john/6-41-42 "John 6:41-42 - The Jews Murmur") show their murmuring and disbelief, questioning His origins. John 6:44 directly addresses their inability to believe, attributing it not to a lack of evidence, but to a spiritual incapacity that only the Father can overcome. It sets the stage for further challenging statements about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, which cause many disciples to turn away ([John 6:66](/john/6-66 "John 6:66 - Many Disciples Turn Away")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The audience, primarily Jews in Galilee, would have been deeply rooted in Old Testament traditions and expectations of the Messiah. Their understanding of "coming" to God often involved adherence to the Law and temple rituals. Jesus' radical claims, particularly that He was the "bread from heaven" and that one must "eat His flesh" and "drink His blood" (metaphorically referring to total identification with His sacrifice), challenged their conventional religious frameworks. The concept of God "drawing" people was not entirely foreign, as the Old Testament speaks of God's active pursuit of His people, but Jesus' emphasis on the Father's specific drawing to *Himself* as the Son was revolutionary. The promise of "raising up at the last day" would resonate with Jewish eschatological hopes for a bodily resurrection, though their understanding of its timing and nature might differ from Jesus' ultimate revelation.
* **Key Themes:** John 6:44 powerfully contributes to several major themes in the Gospel of John. Firstly, it highlights the **Divine Initiative in Salvation**, emphasizing that true faith and spiritual understanding are not solely human achievements but are initiated by God's sovereign grace. This aligns with other Johannine themes where salvation is presented as a gift from God, as seen in [John 1:12-13](/john/1-12-13 "John 1:12-13 - Born of God"). Secondly, it underscores **Human Inability** to come to Christ apart from divine intervention, revealing the spiritual blindness and fallen nature of humanity. This theme is echoed in [John 3:3-5](/john/3-3-5 "John 3:3-5 - Born Again") where Jesus tells Nicodemus one must be born again to see the kingdom of God. Thirdly, the verse connects the Father's drawing and coming to Jesus with the ultimate **Promise of Resurrection and Eternal Life**. This eschatological hope is a recurring motif in John, particularly in [John 5:28-29](/john/5-28-29 "John 5:28-29 - Resurrection of Life and Condemnation"), where Jesus speaks of the hour coming when all in the tombs will hear His voice and come out.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **can (Greek, _dýnamai'_):** This word signifies the ability or possibility to do something. In the negative "No man *can* come," it powerfully conveys an inherent human inability or incapacity. It's not merely a lack of desire, but a fundamental spiritual powerlessness to initiate saving faith without external, divine enablement.
* **draw (Greek, _helkýō'_):** This term implies a strong, compelling, yet not necessarily violent, force. It's used elsewhere in the New Testament for physically dragging a net ([John 21:6](/john/21-6 "John 21:6 - Drawing the Net")) or a person ([Acts 16:19](/acts/16-19 "Acts 16:19 - Dragged into the Marketplace")), but also for Jesus drawing all people to Himself through His crucifixion ([John 12:32](/john/12-32 "John 12:32 - Jesus Will Draw All People")). In John 6:44, it describes the Father's powerful, effective, and gracious work in the human heart, overcoming spiritual resistance and enabling a willing response to Christ.
* **raise (Greek, _anístēmi'_):** This word means to stand up, lift up, or cause to rise. Here, it refers to the resurrection from the dead. Its inclusion links the Father's drawing and the individual's coming to Christ directly to the ultimate eschatological hope: bodily resurrection and eternal life. It signifies the complete and final salvation that God accomplishes for those He draws.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"No man can come to me":** This opening clause establishes humanity's inherent spiritual inability to approach Jesus in saving faith on their own terms. It is a stark declaration of human spiritual incapacity, emphasizing that the fallen human will, left to itself, is not inclined or able to seek God truly. This is not a statement about physical proximity but spiritual access and genuine belief.
* **"except the Father which hath sent me draw him":** This crucial qualification reveals the divine prerequisite for coming to Christ. The Father, who sent Jesus into the world, must actively and powerfully "draw" an individual. This drawing is an act of sovereign grace, a work of God that overcomes spiritual resistance and enables the heart to respond to the gospel. It implies a divine enablement that precedes and facilitates genuine faith, without negating human responsibility.
* **"and I will raise him up at the last day":** This concluding promise connects the Father's drawing and the individual's coming to Jesus with the ultimate outcome of salvation. Those who are drawn by the Father and come to Christ are assured of resurrection to eternal life at the end of the age. This links the initial work of grace to the final glorification of the believer, underscoring the security and completeness of salvation for those who are truly God's own.

#### Literary Devices
John 6:44 employs several significant literary devices. **Hyperbole** is present in the absolute statement "No man can come to me," which is immediately qualified by the exception, serving to emphasize the profound spiritual barrier that exists. This is a common rhetorical strategy in John to highlight a truth before providing its divine solution. The verse also features a strong element of **Paradox**, as it presents human inability alongside divine enablement. While "no man can come," the Father *does* draw, creating a tension that resolves in the mystery of God's sovereign grace and human responsibility. Furthermore, there is clear **Cause and Effect** at play: the Father's drawing is the cause, and the coming to Jesus is the effect, leading to the ultimate effect of resurrection. This establishes a divine chain of events in salvation. Finally, the phrase "the last day" serves as **Eschatological Language**, pointing forward to the culmination of God's redemptive plan and the ultimate triumph over death through Christ.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 6:44 is a cornerstone verse for understanding the divine initiative in salvation, often cited in discussions of God's sovereignty and human free will. It teaches that salvation is not merely a human decision or intellectual assent, but a profound work of God's grace, where the Father actively draws individuals to His Son. This drawing is effective, overcoming spiritual blindness and enabling a genuine, faith-filled response. It highlights humanity's spiritual inability apart from divine intervention, underscoring the absolute necessity of God's grace for anyone to come to Christ. This truth should lead believers to profound humility and gratitude, recognizing that their faith is a gift, and should encourage evangelists to rely on God's power to open hearts. The promise of resurrection at the "last day" firmly roots this divine work in the ultimate hope of eternal life, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of God's saving plan from initial call to final glorification.

* [John 6:65](/john/6-65 "No One Can Come Unless Granted by the Father")
* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Salvation by Grace Through Faith")
* [Romans 8:29-30](/romans/8-29-30 "God's Golden Chain of Salvation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 6:44 offers profound comfort and calls for deep humility in the life of a believer. For those who have placed their faith in Christ, it serves as a powerful reminder that their salvation is not a mere accident or solely the result of their own intellectual prowess or moral effort, but a direct consequence of the Father's loving and sovereign drawing. This truth should cultivate a spirit of profound gratitude, fostering a deeper dependence on God's grace rather than self-reliance. It encourages us to marvel at the mystery of God's election and His personal pursuit of our souls. For those who are seeking God or struggling with faith, this verse provides hope: the initiative often lies with God, and we can pray for His drawing power in our own lives and in the lives of others. In our evangelistic efforts, it reminds us that while we are called to faithfully proclaim the gospel, the ultimate work of conversion—the opening of hearts and the enabling of belief—rests with God. This frees us from undue pressure and encourages fervent prayer for divine intervention in the lives of those we seek to reach.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the truth that the Father must "draw" us impact your understanding of your own salvation or the salvation of others?**
* **What does "human inability" to come to Christ mean for our approach to evangelism and discipleship?**
* **How does the promise of being "raised up at the last day" connect to the Father's drawing and your present faith?**

### FAQ
**Does "draw" mean that God forces people against their will to come to Him?**

Answer: The Greek word for "draw" (G1670, _helkýō_) implies a powerful, compelling, yet not necessarily coercive, force. While it can be used for dragging, in this spiritual context, it describes the Father's effective and persuasive work in the human heart. It's not about overriding a person's will in a violent or mechanistic way, but rather overcoming the spiritual resistance and blindness of the fallen nature, enabling a willing and genuine response to Christ. It's a drawing that makes the person willing to come, removing the spiritual obstacles that prevent them from doing so. This divine work illuminates the mind, convicts the conscience, and inclines the will towards Christ, resulting in a free and deliberate choice to believe. It is a work of grace that makes coming to Jesus not only possible but desirable.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 6:44, with its emphasis on the Father's drawing and the Son's promise of resurrection, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. He is the very One whom the Father "sent" ([John 6:44](/john/6-44 "John 6:44 - The Father Who Sent Me")) and through whom this divine drawing is accomplished. Jesus Himself later declares, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" ([John 12:32](/john/12-32 "John 12:32 - Jesus Will Draw All Men")). This "lifting up" refers to His crucifixion, revealing that the Father's drawing is intrinsically linked to the atoning work of Christ. The cross, far from being a repellent, becomes the ultimate magnetic force, demonstrating God's love and justice, and drawing sinners to repentance and faith. Furthermore, Jesus' promise to "raise him up at the last day" is fulfilled through His own resurrection, which is the guarantee and firstfruits of the resurrection of all believers ([1 Corinthians 15:20-23](/1_corinthians/15-20-23 "1 Corinthians 15:20-23 - Christ the Firstfruits of Resurrection")). He is the "resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")), embodying the very power to grant eternal life to those the Father draws to Him. Thus, John 6:44 points directly to Christ as the means, the object, and the ultimate end of God's saving plan, where divine initiative, human response, and eternal glorification coalesce in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 6:65

And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

John 6:39

And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

John 6:40

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Matthew 11:25

¶ At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Matthew 11:27

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

Ephesians 2:4

¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.