The Nature and Cause of a Failure to Believe in Jesus (John 12:32-43)

Valley Harvest Church https://valley-harvest.org

Why do people fail to believe in Jesus? This is not a trivial question. It is one that confronts us every time we see someone reject the gospel—whether politely, indifferently, or with outright hostility. Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, came offering life, yet many turned away. The question is, why? Is unbelief simply a matter of personal choice, or is there something deeper at work?

Scripture reveals a twofold answer: Unbelief is both a willful rejection of the light and the result of divine hardening. Some reject Christ because they refuse to submit to the truth, loving darkness rather than light. But others do not believe because they cannot—they have been judicially hardened by God, confirming their rejection as an act of divine judgment.

This is the tension we find in John 12. As Jesus speaks about His impending crucifixion, He makes a striking statement:

John 12:32-33 NASB:  “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”  33  But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.

John clarifies that Jesus was referring to the kind of death He would die—His being “lifted up” on the cross. This moment is both an act of salvation and a point of division. Some will be drawn, but others will remain blind. As we examine this passage, we must wrestle with both the human and divine causes of unbelief—and what they mean for us today.

When Jesus declares, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32), John immediately clarifies what He means: “But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die” (v. 33). Jesus’ lifting up refers to His crucifixion—the means by which He will accomplish redemption. The cross is not an accident of history but the very purpose for which He came.

God draws people from every nation to Himself through Jesus’ death & resurrection.

Jesus’ death is not just for Israel, but for people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. God’s heart has always been for the nations. From the beginning, He promised Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed through his offspring (Genesis 12:3). The Psalms proclaim that all nations will worship the Lord, and the prophets foretold a day when Gentiles would seek the God of Israel. Jesus’ ministry initially focused on the lost sheep of Israel, but His mission was never confined to one nation. The arrival of Greeks in John 12 signals that the time has come for salvation to extend beyond Israel. This moment sets the stage for Jesus’ declaration that He will draw all people to Himself, a statement that points to the unfolding of God’s plan to redeem people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

What Does “All” Mean in John 12:32?

Revelation 5:9 declares that Jesus has “purchased for God with blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Similarly, Paul affirms that in Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

Thus, Jesus’ statement in John 12:32 highlights the universal scope of the gospel, not in the sense that every individual will be saved, but that the barrier between Jew and Gentile is removed. The cross is the means by which God gathers a people for Himself from every ethnicity, social class, and background. Anyone who believes may come—but not all will.

This drawing is not mere invitation but an effectual calling—those whom God draws will come.

Jesus’ words in John 12:32 must also be read in light of John 6:44, where He says,

John 6:44 NASB: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

The same Greek verb for “draw” (ἑλκύσω, helkysō) is used in both passages. This word does not indicate a mere invitation but rather an effectual calling. In other words, those whom Christ draws will come to Him—they will not resist or reject His drawing. When God draws people to Himself, it always works and has a real effect, as we see in John 6:37-40.

John 6:37-40 NASB:  “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.  38  “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  39  “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.  40  “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

  1. None will be lost (v. 39) – Their salvation is secure.
  2. All will be raised up on the last day (vv. 39-40) – Every person drawn by God receives eternal life.

If the ‘drawing’ in John 12:32 was just an invitation, some people would refuse it. But John 6:44 shows that when God draws someone, it always works. This isn’t just a general call to everyone—it’s God’s powerful work that guarantees the salvation of those He has chosen. The cross doesn’t just make salvation possible; it actually accomplishes it. Jesus died for His people, and they will be drawn to Him and believe.

The Cross is the great magnet of history, pulling His people toward Christ. It stands at the center of everything, drawing people from every corner of the earth. It is God’s power to save and the way He restores the broken relationship between people and God, making peace where there was once separation. But as John’s Gospel shows, not everyone believes. Some reject Jesus, and their unbelief isn’t just a personal choice—they are enslaved to their sin.

Our desires & expectations make us unwilling to believe what God says about Himself.

The Old Testament presents a Messiah who would reign forever (2 Samuel 7:13-14, Isaiah 9:6-7) but also one who would suffer (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22). The Jewish people in Jesus’ time primarily clung to the reigning King aspect of the Messiah. They longed for deliverance from Roman rule and expected a triumphant leader who would establish an earthly kingdom. The idea of a crucified Messiah—one who would suffer and die—was not only unexpected but offensive (1 Corinthians 1:23). Their expectation of an immediate, political ruler blinded them to the reality that Jesus’ first coming was about spiritual redemption. Because He did not fit their expectations, they struggled to believe in Him. So Jesus said to them…

Rejecting the Light Does Not Leave a Person in Neutral Territory; It Leads to Darkness.

Jesus uses the metaphor of light and darkness to stress the urgency of faith. To walk in the light means to believe in Jesus, accepting Him as the light of the world (John 8:12). Those who do so become “sons of light” (John 12:36), meaning they receive God’s divine life and guidance. However, rejecting this call does not mean you are neutral; rather it reveals that, you are overtaken by spiritual darkness. Spiritual darkness is a metaphor for eternal separation from God.

John 12:36 NASB:  “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.

Jesus warns that the opportunity to trust Him is limited—the Light is present only for a short while. The phrase “a little while longer” emphasizes the urgency of the moment. Those who delay faith run the risk of losing the opportunity altogether. John then tells us that Jesus “went away and hid Himself from them” (John 12:36), signifying that the time to learn from Him was coming to an end.

This truth applies today. Some assume they can turn to Christ whenever they choose, but Scripture warns that hardening one’s heart over time can make faith impossible. The more we reject the Light, the deeper we sink into darkness.

Sin is deceptive—it does not always harden the heart all at once, but gradually, over time. Every time a person resists the truth of the gospel, their heart becomes more calloused to it. This is exactly what happened in Jesus’ day. Though the people had seen overwhelming evidence of His power, they still refused to believe.

The Heart’s Resistance to Truth Is Not Due to Lack of Evidence but a Lack of Willingness.

Many people claim they would believe in God if they had enough evidence, but Jesus demonstrates that unbelief is not caused by lack of proof. He had performed many signs before them, yet they still did not believe. The miracles of Jesus were undeniable, yet instead of drawing people to faith, they often led to a harder rejection.

This is a pattern in Scripture. Even in the Old Testament, Israel saw incredible miracles—the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven—yet they still rebelled (Numbers 14:11). Signs and wonders, by themselves, do not create faith. Sometimes we mistakenly think that if a person could just see a miracle, they would surely believe. Not so. Many times, miracles only lead to a hardened heart (Luke 16:31). Why do people reject Christ despite the evidence? Because they love darkness rather than light. John 3:19-20 explains:

People resist Christ not because of a lack of knowledge, but because of a love for sin. To embrace Christ means to expose one’s own wickedness, and many would rather remain in darkness than have their sin confronted. This is the very pattern that Isaiah lamented centuries before—people hear the truth, yet they refuse to believe. John now ties their unbelief directly to prophecy, showing that their rejection of Jesus had been foretold long ago.

Isaiah foresaw that many would reject the Messiah, and this rejection itself was part of God’s sovereign plan. John quotes Isaiah 53:1, a well-known prophecy of the suffering servant. Isaiah lamented that the Messiah’s message would not be widely received, despite being the very revelation of God’s power. Paul later quotes Isaiah 53:1 in Romans 10:16 to explain why many in Israel rejected the gospel. Their unbelief was not merely the result of ignorance but was part of a deeper pattern—one that had been prophesied long before. John’s interpretation reinforces this truth: the Jews’ rejection of Jesus was not merely a failure of their own will, but the unfolding of God’s sovereign decree.

The Heart’s Resistance to Truth Is Not Due to Lack of Evidence but a Lack of Willingness.

The language is striking—not simply that they would not believe, but that they could not. Why? Because their rejection of Christ had been foretold by Isaiah 700 years earlier.

This statement raises a difficult question: Did God prevent them from believing, or did they simply harden themselves? There two truths in the Bible that are difficult to reconcile, but still true. People are responsible for their choices, but God is also sovereign. People reject God by their own choice, and God allows their unbelief to be final as a form of judgment. Romans 9:18 states,

The context of Isaiah 6:10 is significant. This was Isaiah’s commission—he was sent to preach a message that would actually harden the people rather than lead them to repentance. God told Isaiah that his preaching would be met with rejection, and that Israel’s heart would grow callous.

Think of a dam holding back a river. The river wants to flood the valley, but the dam keeps it from doing so. If the dam is removed, the water rushes forward—but the dam didn’t create the water or make it flood. In the same way, God’s grace holds people back from being as sinful as they could be. When He removes His restraint, they freely continue in their rebellion.

At a certain point, God sovereignly determines to confirm them in their rebellion. Because of their persistent rejection, He hardens their hearts so that they no longer have the possibility of repenting. A rejection of God leads to rejection from God, and God’s hardening is both a punishment and a natural consequence. This is a sobering reality—when God hardens, no one can soften their own heart.

If God hardens hearts, isn’t it unfair for Him to judge people for not believing? This assumes that people are innocent victims of God’s hardening, as if they wanted to believe but were prevented from doing so. But that is not the biblical picture of humanity. All people are already guilty before God (Romans 3:10-12), and no one naturally seeks Him. God does not take morally neutral or innocent people and force them into unbelief—He confirms them in the rebellion they already desire. Paul anticipates this exact objection in Romans 9:18-21:

Notice that Paul does not apologize for God’s justice or try to make it more palatable. Instead, he exposes the prideful arrogance behind the question. The fact that we even ask, “Is God unfair?” reveals the depth of human sinfulness—we, the creation, question the rights of our Creator. Everyone is guilty before God; no one deserves salvation. If God were fair in the sense of giving everyone what they deserve, then no one would be saved. The shocking thing is not that some are hardened, but that anyone is shown mercy at all (Romans 9:23).

God is perfectly just and has the right to choose. A king is not unjust for pardoning some criminals while allowing others to face justice. Mercy is never owed—it is always a gift. Those who object to God’s sovereign choices prove the very point of hardening: sinful people resist God’s authority, even when confronted with the truth. Ultimately, God does what He pleases, and what He pleases is always right. Instead of demanding that He conform to our human sense of fairness, we should tremble before His sovereignty and be amazed that He shows mercy to any of us at all.

Someone will object, “If God hardens hearts, then we don’t really have free will, right?” We often think of free will as the ability to do anything we want, but that’s not actually how it works. We always choose based on our deepest desires. A sinful person freely chooses sin, just like a lion freely chooses meat over vegetables—it’s in their nature. Even though God is sovereign, people still make real choices. Jesus says

The problem is not that they wanted to believe but couldn’t—the problem is they didn’t want to believe at all. So, when God hardens someone, He is not turning a willing believer into an unbeliever. He is simply leaving them to their own choices, which they willingly make.

God doesn’t harden everyone in the same way. The Bible shows that He does this in different ways. Some people grow more stubborn because God removes His grace that was holding them back, letting them chase after their sinful desires. Others harden their own hearts by rejecting Him over and over, and God allows this to continue as part of His judgment. Sometimes, God uses outside events—like the actions of evil people or disasters—to shape how someone sees the truth of the Gospel.

While many had been hardened, some still believed…

Their fear of man kept them from fully committing to Christ. What happens when people believe, yet refuse to confess Christ openly?

The desire for human approval prevents people from genuine faith in Jesus.

It is possible to believe in Jesus intellectually yet refuse to stand for Him publicly. These rulers saw the signs, heard Jesus’ teachings, and were convinced that He was the Messiah, but remained silent. Confessing Christ meant losing their place in society. In that culture, being cast out of the synagogue was more than a religious matter—it meant losing status, relationships, and possibly their livelihood.

They desired the benefits of salvation without the cost of open confession. They were content with a private faith that did not demand public loyalty. But the problem is that true faith is never merely private—it compels us to stand for Christ, even when it costs us something.

Their belief in Jesus was real enough to convict them, but not strong enough to move them to open allegiance. A faith that is silent under pressure is not neutral—it is a faith that is on its way to denial. Jesus warned that if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us. These rulers thought they could privately believe in Jesus while avoiding rejection, but Jesus requires public allegiance. In Matthew Jesus warned:

Many people struggle to openly confess Christ, not because they don’t believe in Him, but because fear holds them back. Some are afraid of being judged, worried that their past mistakes or weaknesses will be exposed. Others fear rejection, wanting to fit in and avoid losing friendships or respect. Some even fear for their safety, especially if they have faced bullying or harsh treatment for their beliefs before. These fears can make people more focused on pleasing others than on following Christ. However, Jesus calls His followers to fear God’s judgment more than man’s rejection, for only God’s approval is eternal.

The desire for human approval prevents people from genuine faith in Jesus.

It is easy to claim to believe in Jesus until that belief costs something. I know individuals who once claimed to be Christians but have since either denied their faith or modified it to make it more socially acceptable. I am convinced that much of their compromise is due to fear of social rejection.

Our culture often prioritizes feelings over faith, leading many to compromise biblical convictions to avoid conflict. This is especially evident where cultural narratives pressure believers to accept what Scripture clearly defines as contrary to God’s design. Many hesitate to affirm biblical morality because they fear being seen as unloving or intolerant. Some adjust their beliefs, allowing emotions or social approval to override what God has revealed. Yet, Scripture warns against trusting our own understanding over God’s wisdom.

Truth and love must go hand in hand. While God’s way may seem out of step with modern thinking, it remains good, bringing true freedom and flourishing. Our role is not to reshape Scripture to fit cultural trends but to trust that God’s ways are always best—even when they are unpopular (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The pressure to conform is strong. Whether it’s fear of being labeled intolerant, uneducated, or out of touch, the temptation to reshape Christianity into something more palatable to culture is ever-present. But faith that is afraid to stand is not genuine faith at all. True belief is willing to bear shame for the name of Christ. Hebrews 13:13 says,

Do we love the approval of God more than the approval of people? If not, our faith may be no different from the Jewish rulers—convicted, but not committed. Ask yourself if you’re willing to stand for Christ, no matter the cost? Because the day may come when that choice will define whether you truly belong to Him.

The failure to believe in Jesus is never a simple matter of lacking evidence. Some reject Christ because they love darkness rather than light, refusing to submit to the truth. Others cannot believe because God has hardened their hearts, confirming their rejection as an act of divine judgment. It is a sobering reality that a person can resist Christ for so long that their heart becomes incapable of responding. Yet, let me offer this encouragement—if you feel even the slightest pull toward Jesus, if there is any stirring within you to seek Him, that is evidence that you have not been abandoned. The very fact that you care means that God is still drawing you. The enemy loves to torment people with the fear that they have been hardened beyond hope, but if your heart still longs for Christ, then His mercy is still extended to you. Do not delay—while the light is still shining, walk in it. Come to Jesus, for He is still calling you.

The gospel is clear: Jesus Christ died for sinners, was buried, and rose again on the third day, offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe in Him (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Salvation is not about earning God’s favor but about receiving His grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). No matter your past, no matter your fears, no matter how many times you have resisted—if you turn to Him now, He will not turn you away. Jesus said, “The one who comes to Me, I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). If you desire to know Him, I invite you to respond. If you would like to place your faith in Christ today or if you need prayer, we would love to pray with you. Come, while the Light is still shining.