What does it mean that “no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” (John 6:65)?

In John 6:65, Jesus says, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” (ESV). The word this refers to the phenomenon of unbelief, which Jesus anticipated in verse 64. Jesus’ point is that sinners cannot overcome unbelief on their own. No, God must draw sinners to Himself (see John 6:37, 44). If God does not intervene, we will remain dead in our trespasses and sins (see Ephesians 2:1). The antidote to unbelief is the grace of God.

After the miraculous feeding of over 5,000 people (John 6:1–15), Jesus presents Himself as the “bread of life” (John 6:35), Jesus states that we must eat His flesh and drink His blood to receive eternal life (verses 53–58). Many disciples found this to be a “hard saying” (verse 60) because they interpreted His words literally. As a result, they stopped following Him (verse 66). Their desertion, however, did not surprise Jesus because He “knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him” (John 6:64, NLT). This contextualizes Jesus’ words in John 6:65.

Jesus’ response to those who turned away from Him was not to soften His message or even to run after the deserters; instead, He turns to the Twelve and asks, “Do you want to go away as well?” (John 6:67, ESV). Peter responds, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68–69, ESV). There is a sharp contrast between the unfaithful disciples’ actions and Peter’s confession, reminding readers of what Jesus said in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (cf. John 6:44). The point is that coming to Jesus starts with God’s gracious calling.

John 6:65, then, reiterates the necessity of divine grace for saving faith. It is an affirmation of God’s sovereignty in salvation. The Father’s drawing is active and intentional, enabling sinners to believe in Christ for eternal life. It is not based on human merit but on God’s gracious and sovereign will: “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:5, ESV; see also Romans 8:29–30). As a result, we are eternally secure in Christ—not because of our grip on Him, but because of His grip on us (see John 10:28–30).

God’s sovereignty in salvation does not negate human responsibility or the free offer of the gospel. Sinners are repeatedly commanded to repent of their sins and turn to God in faith (Acts 17:30; Romans 10:13). The ability to respond to this call, however, is contingent upon the Father’s drawing. If He does not draw us, then we will not come to Him.