IF I BE LIFTED UP: CRUCIFIXION
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. If I Be Lifted Up
a) There are two actions in the statement of Jesus, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32). First, Jesus was to be lifted up from the earth. Second, all men were to be drawn to him. What does this mean?
b) There are three ways in which Jesus was lifted up from the earth, and in each of these there is something that draws men to him, something that gives one reason to be religious in devotion to him.
c) Here is one of them.
2. Crucifixion
a) He draws us to the CROSS where we behold his PASSION.
b) When Jesus spoke of being "lifted up from the earth", he was indicating the kind of death he would die (John 12:33).
c) But what is the attraction in this sickening atrocity? The high priest Caiaphas said that "one man should die for the people" and this was a prophecy that Jesus would die for people the world over. In doing this, Jesus was offering the ultimate service and showing the full extent of his love (John 13:1, Romans 5:7-8). He was dying for sinners. The crucifixion itself was ugly. But the love being demonstrated by the dying Savior was truly beautiful.
d) In baptism, we are "crucified with him" and "buried with him" (Romans 6:4,6). That too, is something beautiful.
The End ...
1. If I Be Lifted Upa) There are two actions in the statement of Jesus, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32). First, Jesus was to be lifted up from the earth. Second, all men were to be drawn to him. What does this mean?
b) There are three ways in which Jesus was lifted up from the earth, and in each of these there is something that draws men to him, something that gives one reason to be religious in devotion to him.
c) Here is one of them.
2. Crucifixion
a) He draws us to the CROSS where we behold his PASSION.
b) When Jesus spoke of being "lifted up from the earth", he was indicating the kind of death he would die (John 12:33).
c) But what is the attraction in this sickening atrocity? The high priest Caiaphas said that "one man should die for the people" and this was a prophecy that Jesus would die for people the world over. In doing this, Jesus was offering the ultimate service and showing the full extent of his love (John 13:1, Romans 5:7-8). He was dying for sinners. The crucifixion itself was ugly. But the love being demonstrated by the dying Savior was truly beautiful.
d) In baptism, we are "crucified with him" and "buried with him" (Romans 6:4,6). That too, is something beautiful.
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