“If I be lifted up”

1. “If I be lifted up” John 12:32

2. John 12:23-32 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 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.

3. John 12:23-32 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 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.

4. Introduction • This statement not one of doubt! • A juxtaposition regarding Satan! (D. King) • Juxtaposition = “an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast.” - Dictionary.com • “Prince of this world” – vs. 31 (Satan) • Would be cast out – Not be lifted up! • Christ would be lifted up! • “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. • Victorious over sin and death! • “Will draw all men unto me” • “all men” = Both Jews & Gentiles (Eph. 2:11-19; Rom. 5:18) • “draw” = in a peaceful non violent way (cf. Jn. 6:44)

5. SATAN • Cast out (down)! • Signifying defeat • Sin-death • Eternal destruction • CHRIST • Lifted Up! • Signified His Death • Would be glorified • Draw all men • “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” – vs. 28 • “will draw all men unto me” – vs. 32 • “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” – vs. 31

6. Christ was Lifted Up - • On the Cross – Sacrificially! • The point of Jesus’ statement! • “This he said, signifying what death he should die” – vs. 33! • John 3:13-14; Jn. 8:24-29 • As the sacrificial Lamb of God! • Jn. 1:29, 36 • Better than the blood of bulls & goats under the old Law! • Heb. 10:1-5; 7-14 • The Body of Christ was lifted up on the cross! • Luke 23:1-49

7. Christ was Lifted Up - • At His Transfiguration - Authoritatively! • His authority was pronounced by His Father! – Matt. 17:1-5 • He, only He, was illuminated! • Christ the fulfillment of the law and the prophets! • Moses symbolized the Law • Elias symbolized the prophets • The Voice from Heaven declared… • “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” • Christ was exalted by the Father! • Phil. 2:9; Acts 5:31

8. Christ was Lifted Up - • At His Resurrection – Bodily! • David prophesied of it and had hope! • Ps. 16:8-11 • Christ foretold it! • Jn. 2:12-22; 20:19-31 • Peter & apostles proclaimed it on Pentecost! • Acts 2:22-36 • Paul preached it! • 2 Tim. 2:8; 1 Cor. 15:20-22

9. Christ was Lifted Up - • At His Ascension – As King of Kings! • He Ascended into Heaven • Acts 1:8-11; Jn. 20:17 • Christ Now Reigns at God’s right hand: • Mk. 16:19; Acts 2:33; 7:55; 1 Pet. 3:22; Heb. 9:24; 10:12

10. Summary… • Christ was lifted up… • Sacrificially - On the Cross! • Authoritatively- At His Transfiguration! • Bodily - At His Resurrection! • As King of Kings - At His Ascension! • How does the Lifting Up of Christ benefit and draw all men?

11. How Man Benefits because Christ was lifted up! John 12:32

12. John 12:23-32 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 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.

13. Adam Clark On… “I will draw all men unto me” “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” • “I will draw all men unto me.”“After I shall have died and risen again, by the preaching of my word and the influence of my Spirit, I shall attract and illuminate both Jews and Gentiles. It was one of the peculiar characteristics of the Messiah, that unto him should the gathering of the people be, (Genesis 49:10). And probably our Lord refers to the prophecy, Isaiah 11:10, which peculiarly belonged to the Gentiles: ‘…There shall be a root of Jesse which shall stand for an ENSIGN of the people, to it shall the GENTILES seek, and his rest shall be glorious.’ There is an allusion here to the ensigns or colours of commanders of regiments, elevated on high places, on long poles, that the people might see where the pavilion of their general was, and so flock to his standard.

14. Because Christ Was Lifted Up… • Sinners can befreedfrom Sin: • Sin entangles! • 2 Pet. 2:20 • Sin separates! • Isa. 59:1-2; Heb. 3:12; 2 Cor. 6:17 • Sin destroys! • Lk. 15:11-20; Mt. 26:47-50; 27:1-5; Gal. 1:23; Gal. 2:18; Jude 1:5 • Rom. 6:4-7, 18-22; 8:1-4

15. Because Christ Was Lifted Up… • The Humbly Obedient will be exalted! • Gk. Hupsoo = to elevate (literally or figuratively):--exalt, lift up. Strong • By God! • Matt. 23:12; 1 Pet. 5:6; Jn. 12:26 • Jas. 4:6; Job. 22:29 • But not by men! • Apostles - Acts 4:8-18, 5:27-29; 40-42 • Faithful – 2 Tim. 3:12; Ps. 34:19; Jn. 17:18; Acts 14:22

16. Because Christ Was Lifted Up… • We Can be lifted up from Deception: • Of FALSE TEACHERS! • Samaritans - Acts 8:4-13 • Sergius Paulus - Acts 13:4-12 • Of FALSE DOCTRINE! • 2 Tim. 3:13; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Tit. 3:3 • 1 Cor. 15:33 • Of SIN! • Matt. 13:22; 1 Tim. 6:9; 2 Cor. 5:14-17; Heb. 3:13

17. Because Christ Was Lifted Up… • We can overcome the dangers of Worldliness: • Must not “love the world”! - 1 Jn. 2:25-17 • Worldliness has numerous forms! • Language – Eph. 4:29 • Success – Matt. 16:26 • Fashion – 1 Pet. 3:3-5 • Recreation – Eph. 5:11-12 • Entertainment – Rom. 6:13 • Worldliness Destroys: • Nations – Prov. 14:34 • Churches – Rev. 2:20 • Homes – Eph 5:22-27 • Christians – 2 Tim. 4:10 • The hope of Heaven – Rev. 21:8, 27 • It makes one an enemy of God! – Jas. 4:4, but vss. 8-10

18. Because Christ Was Lifted Up.. • The Faithful will be raised up on the last Great Day! • Jn. 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:35-44 • A body of the Lord’s choosing – vs. 38 • The Righteous will meet the Lord in the air! • 1 Thess. 4:13-18 • Only the Righteous (victorious) in Christ will be lifted up to Heaven! • 1 Cor. 15:51-56; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jn. 6:44-45

19. Summary • Because Christ was lifted up… • Sinners can befreedfrom Sin! • The humbly obedient will be exalted! • We can be lifted up from Deception! • Overcome the dangers ofworldliness! • The faithful will be raised up on the last day!

20. What We Must Do To Be Lifted Up? • Alien sinner’s must… • Hear the Gospel - Romans 10:17; 1:16 • Believe - John 5:24 • Repent - Luke 13:3 • Confess Christ - Acts 8:37 • Be baptized in water – Mark 16:16 • Erring children of God must… • Repent and Pray - Acts 8:22 • And live faithfully unto death – Rev. 2:10b