Lift Up Jesus

(John 12:32) And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (KJV)

Let’s look first at the sacrifice and merits of Christ. “And I, if I be lifted up.”

(John 3:14-15) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (KJV) (John 8:28) Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. (KJV) He was literally lifted up on the cross. Who can fathom the depth of the love expressed here, both in word and deed? The Immaculate Son of God who left His place in Heaven, took on the form on man forever, did not only tell men about His Divine love, but now in the very shadow of the cross He is about to manifest it by dying for them. He as The Friend is about to give His life for His friends. Think of the mercy extended to mankind.

If He is lifted, or exalted toward Heaven, “...if I be lifted up from the earth...,” (Rom 14:9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. (KJV) In this Scripture we see the full coverage of the coming, death, resurrection and exaltation to the Mediatorial (mediator occupied) throne of our blessed Lord. Thus we see that the lifting up of our Saviour involved more that the cross though it was included, for after the cross He arose and then ascended to the Mediatorial throne where His is now engaged in drawing men to Himself.

We see in “Will draw all men unto me,” and in (John 6:44) 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) The word draw is used to indicate that men must be moved or drawn by spiritual conviction and power in order to come to Christ. In the Scripture before us, He tells us that He will not only draw men through the medium of His cross or death, but that He will also draw them by His life and victory over death, hell and the grave. That is His position as the Saviour, High Priest, Prophet and coming King. He will not only draw the attention of all men of all nations and parts of the earth but that He will transform all that will accept His provisions of salvation, meeting the conditions for salvation and grant them citizenship and a place in Heaven with Him. For He does not say that every individual will be converted but He expresses His faithfulness to draw on the hearts of all men and that in His position, as stated above, He can and will supply every spiritual need. God gives every man an opportunity but He does not overrule the free moral agency of any!

The Greeks were the first-fruit of the Gentile Christians for Christ. Hence when He said, “I will draw all men unto me,” I am thankful to God that all were included, not the Jews only but the Greeks and Portuguese too!


Please pray with me....

Our dear gracious Heavenly Father, we lift you up today. We lift you up to the millions who are running from you....and toward destruction. We lift you up to the parents of lost children and to the children of lost parents. Today in prayer, we lift you up that you might draw all humanity to yourself. In these days when so few care, please know Dear Jesus, we do, and prayerfully lift you up. In the name of Jesus we pray.