John 12:32 and Universalism

Yesterday, the fifth Sunday of Lent, the lessons included a passage that has given me some pause over the years. Here's my literal translation of what Jesus says, "And I, if I am lifted up from (or, out of) the earth, will draw all to myself."

Many point to this text as indicating universal salvation: that is, if there is a hell, it's only temporary. Everybody makes it to heaven eventually. Whee!

The text is a bigger problem for Reformed Anglicans (and some orthodox Presbyterians) like myself who believe the Scriptures teach a limited atonement; that is, that Christ did not die for the sins of everybody (universalism), but to redeem those God has chosen to receive Christ (the elect). Our own orthodox Rector in yesterday's sermon indicated the text means "universal opportunity."

Most commercial translations confuse the issue (or rather, intentionally fuzz the issue in order to sell more Bibles to both Calvinists and non-Calvinists) by adding the word "men" to the phrase, "...I will draw all men to myself." But the word men (anthropos) is not in the original text. What does "all" refer to?

It's critical to study the context of Jesus' sayings. This story begins in verse 20: "Now there were some Greeks among those who went up (to Jerusalem) to worship at the Feast." These Greeks tell the disciples they would like to see Jesus. When the disciples tell Jesus that Gentiles wish to see him, it triggers the awareness in Christ that his passion has now begun. "The hour has come," Jesus responds, "that the Son of Man be glorified." Jesus goes on to teach the apostles about the necessity of his death and, like the kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies to produce many new seeds, so will be the nature of his glory.

So, when Jesus speaks about his being lifted up, the immediate context seems to support the translation "out of the earth," an obvious reference to his death and resurrection being like the dying seed that produces more seeds. But John inserts an author's note to tell us Jesus is speaking of his crucifixion; that is, being lifted up from the earth.

Given the context, the "all" that Jesus says he will draw to Himself are not people, but races of people; specifically Jews and Gentiles. If he really meant all human beings, Jesus was clearly wrong because all people have not been drawn to Him and the clear teaching of Scripture is that not all people will escape hell and the second death. But the truth of the crucifixion is that Jesus does provide the atoning sacrifice not only for Jews, but for Gentiles as well. As the Apostle Paul puts it, Jesus "reconciles both (Jew and Gentile) through the cross" (Ephesians 2:11-18).

So, should we focus on the bad news that not everyone is going to be saved? Do we complain that God is unfair and tyrannical, that he plays favorites? Should we create a new Gospel because the old one doesn't quite fit our democratic ideals? Wasn't this the Tempter's trick from the beginning? God is unreasonable. Why can't I have it all? My preacher got it right yesterday when he said, "Salvation is only on God's terms, not the terms we might wish to renegotiate." Jesus opens the only escape hatch from sin and faithlessness to those whom he calls, not because they are special, not because they are favorites, but because they are the ones who are listening and precisely because they know they can't do anything for their soul but lament it's sunken condition apart from grace.