Topic: IF I BE LIFTED UP
Text: John 12:31-36
12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
12:32 And I, if I am [a]lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
12:33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
12:34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
12:35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
12:36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
STUDY:
In John 12:32, Jesus reveals the striking significance of His sacrifice on the cross. This verse reminds us of the centrality of the cross in human history. The phrase “lifted up” refers to His crucifixion; and also carries a spiritual relevance in relation to His exaltation and glorification. The result of his ‘lifting’ was to be a ‘drawing’; a powerful, irresistible attraction of a universal scope. When Jesus prayed in verse 28 saying, “Father, glorify your name”, the Father responded through a voice from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” When Jesus was lifted out of the water of Baptism in the Jordan (Luke 3:21-22), men followed Him (Luke 5:1-11). When He was lifted on the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1ff), the disciples had more reasons to follow him. Now, He was to be lifted on the cross, and the barriers and chains everywhere had to break so that the whole world could follow Him.
Whenever there is a lifting of Jesus, there is a drawing of men; it is a drawing for salvation, for deliverance, for redemption and for sanctification. These are the undeniable outcomes whenever and wherever Jesus Christ is lifted. Today, there are many who are lifting themselves by their actions and trying hard to draw Jesus with their lips. As Christians, It is high time we retraced our steps and returned to the fundamental pattern of lifting up Jesus Christ so He can draw men to Himself.
Prayer:
Lord, help me draw men to you, and not to me in any form. Amen.
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