"If I Be Lifted up"
By Glendol McClure

"And Jesus answered them, saying, 'The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 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. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 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 honor. 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. Father, glorify thy name.' Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, 'I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.' The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, 'An angel spake to Him.' Jesus answered and said, 'This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.' This He said, signifying what death He should die." (John 12:23-33).

The above text supplies the title for this article. During His personal ministry, Jesus used various methods, on numerous occasions, to teach His disciples. For example, He taught parables that contained illustrations common to the culture and practices of the people of that time. He used illustrations involving fishing (Matthew 13:47-50), agriculture (Luke 8:4-15), domesticated animals (Matthew 25:31-46), and various customs familiar to those he taught and to which they could relate.

In this text, he used seed and illustrated an important principle regarding what must occur before it can reproduce--it must die! Anyone who has horticulture knowledge understands that the seed taken directly from a watermelon, or any other fruit, will not produce unless it first decomposes (dies). The decomposed matter in the shell of the seed is the nutriment that supplies the germ of the seed during the germination process. This process occurs when the seed is planted and surrounded in the heart of the earth and properly watered. In order for a harvest to occur, the seed has to die, but the viable seed's germ is alive. Outwardly, the seed appears to be dead, but when it is planted and moistened, the seed germinates (sprouts), the growth and development process begins, and eventually it produces "after his kind" (Genesis 1:11,12). The fruit's benefits can then be realized, used, and enjoyed.

In this text, Jesus used this important agricultural principle to illustrate the necessity of His death, which had to occur first. After His death, he would be buried and rise the third day (Mark 9:31). Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is similar to seed. The seed must die, be planted, and watered in order for the germination process to begin. Then, it will develop, grow, and produce fruit. Likewise, to accomplish the scheme of redemption, it was necessary for Christ to die.

Additionally, in order to be an acceptable servant of Christ, one must die to the sins of this world, "be planted together in the likeness of His death," and be "raised to walk in newness of life." (Romans 6)

In verse 31 of our text in John 12, Jesus used another illustration-a parallel, or comparison, also called by some a juxtaposition. He contrasted Himself with "the prince of this world" (Satan). According to Jesus, Satan, in contrast to Himself, would be "cast out." In other words, Satan was going to be defeated.

How so? By Jesus' death. In verse 32, He said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Jesus did not use the word "if" in a way to convey doubt. Instead, he went on to give an if-then condition, that being, that because of the fact of His death (1 Corinthians 15:1-4,20; Acts 13:29-37; 1 John 1:1-3), He would "draw all men." Christ's death would be a deathblow or defeat to Satan and his fruit--sin and the destruction of men's souls.

But, the fruit of Christ's death would provide the means of redemption from sin for "all men" (both Jews and Gentiles) who are obedient to the gospel (Hebrews 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). To "draw all men" means that His message, the gospel, would attract both Jews and Gentiles unto Him. His message would have a drawing power and a saving power over sin (John 6:44; Romans 1:16). This drawing would be a peaceful attraction, a calling (1 Corinthians 1:24,26; Ephesians 4:1,4; Colossians 3:15; Hebrews 9:15; James 2:7), which would require the believers' total commitment to Him (Luke 14:26; Matthew 19:29). In this article, we are going to discuss four ways (sacrificially, authoritatively, bodily, and as King of Kings) in which Christ was "lifted up."

Verse 33 of our text tells us that Jesus signified His death by the statement, "If I be lifted up." The apostle John wrote, "This He said, signifying what death He should die." The gospel accounts describe in vivid detail the cruel mocking, the trial, and His suffering on the cross (Matthew 27,28; Mark 14,15; Luke 22,23; John 18,19).

As Jesus ministered here on earth, He often confronted the Jews with the certainty of His coming death, which would be at their hands (John 8:24-29). Said the Savior when He addressed Nicodemus,

"...Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:10-18)

Christ Was Lifted up Sacrificially on the Cross!

John the baptizer referred to Jesus as the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29, 36) Nothing but Christ's blood could save the world. Hence, He was the perfect sacrifice. What the law could not do through the offering of the blood of sacrificial animals and carnal ordinances--take away sin--Christ's blood could do.

The Hebrew writer contrasted the law's inadequacies, necessitating the shed blood of the Son of God and the benefits of the new covenant. He wrote,

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, 'Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.'" (Hebrews 10:1-5; see also Hebrews 7-9)

The blood of bulls and goats was not a sufficient sacrifice, but the shed blood of the sinless Son of God was (1 Peter 2:22-25).

Christ Was Lifted up Authoritatively at His Transfiguration!

The Father pronounced Christ's authority at the transfiguration. Matthew's account reads,

"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.' While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.'" (Matthew 17:1-5)

At His transfiguration, only Jesus was illuminated, even though He was in the presence of Peter, James, John, Moses, and Elias. Moses symbolically represented the law, and Elias symbolically represented the prophets. The emphatic response to Peter's suggestion to build three tabernacles, "one for thee (Christ), and one for Moses, and one for Elias" was, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. " This signified that Christ was the fulfillment of the law and the prophets and that He brought closure to the old system (Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19; Hebrews 1:1-2; Matthew 5:17-18).

In Matthew 28:18, Christ claimed all authority, saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." This leaves no authority for the Roman Catholic Pope or any other religious charlatan who may rise here on this earth (Ephesians 1:19-23; Colossians 1:16-20). As Christ sought to glorify His Father through His death (John 12:27-28), His Father would glorify and exalt Christ. Of Christ's exaltation, Paul wrote,

"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:6-11; Acts 5:31)

Why did the Father exalt Christ? Christ came to do His Father's will, and even when faced with the cross, He prayed, "Thy will be done." God's Son left heaven's portals and came to this land of sin and sorrow. He lived a faithful, sinless life before men, thus becoming the sacrifice for sin that would provide mankind with a remedy for his sins. Therefore, in the gospel age, we must "hear Him!"

Christ Was Lifted up Bodily at His Resurrection!

Jesus' body was not destined to remain in the grave and see corruption. Peter affirmed this fact by citing the words of David the prophet. In Acts 2, on Pentecost, Peter declared,

"Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning Him, 'I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.'" (Acts 2:24-27)

In verses 29-31, Peter exclaimed,

"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption."

In these verses, Peter referred to the prophet David's words and hope found in Psalm 16:10. David said, "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

Therefore, David had hope of a final resurrection, when his own corrupted body would be raised from the grave, be changed, and ascend from this earth to be with Christ eternally.

The Bible's Divine evidence concerning Christ's resurrection clearly affirms that David prophesied it and had hope. Christ foretold His own resurrection (John 2:12-22; 20:19-31). Peter and the apostles proclaimed it on Pentecost. And Paul, all skeptics--Jew or Gentile-notwithstanding, proclaimed it as fact, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." (1 Corinthians 15:20; cf. Acts 13:26-39)

Christ Was Lifted up As King of Kings at His Ascension!

During His personal ministry, Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure from this earth. In John 14:1-3, He said,

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Jesus promised the "apostles whom He had chosen" (Acts 1:2), that He would send them a comforter-the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13; Acts 1:8), who would "guide them into all truth." Christ further charged them to "tarry ... in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49) This they did, and on the first Pentecost after Christ's death, they were "filled with the Holy Ghost," and began to speak in other tongues "as the spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4). This power gave them the ability to "preach the gospel to every creature" in many languages, whereby their saving message could be understood by all who heard it (Mark 16:15; Acts 2:5-12).

After Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Ghost would come upon them in Jerusalem, "while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight." (Acts 1:9) As they stood gazing into heaven, two men in white apparel said, "... Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)

When Christ ascended into Heaven, He took His seat at the "right hand of God" (Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33; 7:55; 1 Peter 3:22; Hebrews 9:24; 10:12) and is now reigning over His kingdom, the church, which He purchased and over which He is Head (Ephesians 1:22,23; Colossians 1:18; Acts 20:28). His reign will continue until the end "... when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:24-26) He is reigning NOW!

Therefore, because of His ascension, and because He is seated at the "right hand of God," Jesus is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16) Paul wrote, "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him." (1 Corinthians 8:5-6) To Christians who hear and obey Christ's words, He is Lord (Luke 6:46). For His word will judge all men (John 12:48).

In this space, we have considered ways in which Christ was lifted up. He was lifted up Sacrificially on the cross. He was lifted up Authoritatively at His transfiguration. He was lifted up Bodily at His resurrection. And, finally, He was lifted up as King of Kings at His ascension.

Because Christ was lifted up, there are many spiritual blessings, all of which are available only to those who are "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Are you "in Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27)?

In a future article, we will investigate some spiritual blessings we can enjoy as a result of Christ's having been "lifted up."

Can we see that this wonderful "lifting up" could not have happened to anyone other than God's Son? What a blessing!


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