Thursday, July 24, 2014

Lifted Up

John 12:31-34

"Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." This He said signifying by what death He would die.

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?


God brought His Son into this world because of its fallen state. Things have not changed; we are still in a fallen state. It will remain this way until Christ returns.

The purpose for Jesus' coming was to reveal Himself as the Savior of the world. While we remain fallen we are separated from God. This was not God's intention. Adam originally walked and talked with God for a time.

God's people, Israel, the Jews, waxed and waned in their trust in God. There were blessings and judgment. So it continues. God knew and prophesied throughout the Old Testament that One would come to reverse the effects of Adam and Eve's sin. Every book of the Old Testament had some mention of this Person! The books were written that they might know...that we might also know.

So how is it after all this time and the arrival according to Scripture of this Man, people still question? What does Son of Man even mean? While Jesus is God, when He came to earth He also became Son of Man...speaking of His humanity.

But Jesus tells us above that there will be a day when judgment will come. Judgment upon those who do not trust in Him, who do not look to Him as Savior. In the meantime the ruler of the world has a stranglehold on many that they should not believe. But there will also be a day when Jesus, who has overcome death and darkness, will defeat the enemy one last time.

Jesus is God and God never changes. In a magnificent supernatural occurrence, Jesus has been lifted up, both on the cross and to eternal life, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He has come to give those who seek Him the same eternal life. He said, "if I be lifted up..." And He was that He might become the Way, the bridge, to reconciliation with God. Many churches teach going to church, being a certain denomination, doing good works are what will save them. But the truth is, Christ did it all for us, that we could not boast in our own works. It's all about His work on the cross.

He was lifted up to redeem the fallen world that what Adam and Eve once had we could have again. Communion with God. Knowledge of Scripture. Wisdom for our daily living. True understanding of why Jesus had to be lifted up.

His being lifted up on the cross and to eternal life is just more proof that He was who He said He was. Son of Man who also was the Son of God. Who is this Son of Man to you? Do you know Him? Is He part of every day of your life? Have you acknowledged Him in the most intimate way...giving of yourself to Him?

John 3:14-16 - And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

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