Monday, March 3, 2025
IF I BE LIFTED UP!
John 3:14-15
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the
Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal
life.
John 12:32-34
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ
abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is
this Son of man?
In the same chapter that depicts the Triumphal Entry, we find Jesus trying to explain that he should soon die. In verse 24 He
explains that His life is like a seed that brings forth fruit only when it is
planted in death. Unless he dies, he abides alone.
In verse 25 Jesus repeats a favorite axiom that the man who loves his life dearly and carefully will ultimately
lose it anyway because death overtakes all. However, if a man invests, spends
and uses up his life in a worthy pursuit, he will keep it forever. This is hard
to understand until you apply it to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
The people were confused regarding Messiah and this confusion was expressed in verse 34. Adam Clarke, in his
commentary, clears it up for us. “There was no part of the law nor of
the Scripture that said the Messiah should not die; but there are several
passages that say as expressly as they can that Christ must die, and die for
the sin of the world too. See especially Isa 53:1, etc.; Dan 9:24,27. But as
there were several passages that spoke of the perpetuity of his reign, as Isa
9:7; Ezek 37:25; Dan 7:14, they probably confounded the one with the other, and
thus drew the conclusion, The Messiah cannot die; for the Scripture hath said,
his throne, kingdom, and reign shall be eternal.” (from Adam Clarke's
Commentary). Once again, their confusion was centered in the resurrection.
The question, “who is this Son of man” in verse 34, demonstrates their lack of understanding because they had forgotten
about the Son of man in Daniel 7:13
who would “come with the clouds of heaven.” This was Messiah!
Jesus clearly, I think, defined not only the person but
the purpose for the Son of man being lifted up.
He uses Moses’ serpent in the wilderness as an example. The people had sinned,
and God had sent fiery snakes to bite them. Many died! Then God told Moses to
make a brass snake an put it on a staff and then lift it up. Whenever a bitten
man or woman looked upon this they were healed. Jesus would be lifted up on a
cross and whenever any sinner looked upon that scene in faith they too would be
healed of their sin.
When Jesus said, in verse 32, that he would “draw all
men,” He meant that he would provide the
means whereby man may follow Him to heaven. In fact, the Greek word for draw, helkuo,
literally means “to drag!” So, we are able to ride upon the coat tails
of Jesus all the way to heaven. This eliminates any effort on my part
along with any boasting. My entrance into heaven is based upon the
broken body of the Savior entwined upon the tree. God the Father saw the
sacrifice and concluded that it was enough. It was enough for me, and it
was enough for you too.
Dear Lord, thank you for being willing
to be lifted up for me! AMEN
