Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 25

January 24;   John 12:32;   80/260(VI);   ‘Lifted Up & Drawing’

John 12:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."

The time was fast approaching when the Lord Jesus would be crucified to redeem us from sin and sickness.  He states that if He is lifted up (in crucifixion), He will draw all men to Himself.  The Lord Jesus’ one time sacrifice on the cross redeemed humanity, eternally.  Sin and sickness have legally been removed from your life and you can live a righteous life free from sickness and disease.  The Lord Jesus is no longer on the cross, but we must understand and believe that His sacrifice on the cross, being punished for our sins and with our sicknesses, knowing He rose from the dead, is how we are drawn to Him and are Born Again.  This verse also has a double meaning.  If the Church lifts up the Lord Jesus in praise and worship.  If the Church will faithfully teach the Word of God concerning the Lord Jesus, His love and what His redemptive work means.  When we lift up the Lord Jesus and acknowledge Him as the Son of God and our Lord and Savior, in this sacred atmosphere, the Holy Spirit will continue to draw all men to Jesus.  The genius of the Word of God is so clearly seen in this verse (and many, many others).  Jesus literally was lifted up on the cross and His sacrificial death for us enables us to have eternal life with the Lord if we believe the Word.  Though not the primary meaning, it is just as true, that when a church, faithfully lifts up Jesus in worship and teaches what He willingly did for us, these truths will draw multitudes to a saving knowledge of our Lord.