Lifting Up The Son Of Man

Intro

Text - John 12.31-34

John 12:31–34 NKJV

31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34 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?”

Title - Lifting Up The Son Of Man

The Main Point

What does it mean to “lift Jesus up”?

Why is this important?

Jesus emphasized His being “lifted up” 3 times in the Gospel of John

How can we lift Him up in our life?

there are 2 ways of lifting up Jesus in our life: one is right and one is wrong

Background

Jesus was nearing the end of His earthly ministry.

He began to emphasize on His most important purpose on earth - John 12.27

the Greek word for “lift up” is primarily used for “exalt” 17 times

Jesus used the word for His crucifixion - John 12.33

the Jews seemed to understand what He said - John 12.34

Sermon Points

Significance of “lifting up” of the Son of Man

As Moses lifted up the serpent...

John 3:14–15 NKJV

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

God sent fiery serpents when Israel spoke against God

Numbers 31.4-6

Israel spoke against God and Moses

Israel loathed the manna - God’s “provision” for them in the wilderness

God’s solution was the bronze serpent

Numbers 31.7-9

God did not remove the serpents, but provided healing

LESSONS

Every sin against God has a corresponding curse

Eve, Adam and the Serpent in the garden received theirs

Why didn’t God just heal the people?

Deliverance (or healing) comes NOT because man is “good” (they were “sorry”)

Deliverance comes because God provided the MEANS - the bronze serpent!

John 3.14-16

God gave His son - provided the means of salvation

that whoever believes - salvation is received by faith, not gained by good works

When you lift up the Son of Man…

John 8:28 NKJV

28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

His lifting up will be His unveiling!

John 8:24–25 NKJV

24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.

the Roman soldiers recognized Him - Matthew 27.54

Romans 1.3-4 - declared to be the Son of God

Israel recognized Him too late!

Jesus did not straightly declare that He was the Christ, the Son of God

except for the chosen few, the Jews of His time were already condemned in their unbelief - John 3.18

“If I am lifted up from the earth...”

John 12:31–32 NKJV

31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

His lifting up is the judgment of the world

two things happened when Jesus was crucified:

the world was condemned vicariously - by representation

Isaiah 53.6 (part b)

2 Corinthians 5.21

the original sin - the sinful condition of man - that doomed the whole humanity by Adam’s disobedience, was condemned on the cross

the fate of the Jews of His time, and of the whole nation of Israel, were sealed: the will be blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles

John 3.18-19

His lifting up is the casting out of the ruler of this world

because the penalty of said is paid by the blood of Jesus, Satan’s hold/claim is LOOSED on the sinner who believes in Him!

John 12:32 NKJV

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

Two ways to lift up the Son of Man today

The negative way - Crucify Him again!

Hebrews 6:4–6 NKJV

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

We crucify Christ once again when we put Him to “open shame”

other translations

hold Him up to public shame

hold Him up to contempt

When we fall away and return to our old life after having experienced His saving power, our actions suggest that the blood of Christ was not powerful enough!

The positive way - Exalt Him!

Philippians 2:9–11 NKJV

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

highly exalted - grk. HYPERYPSSO

man lifted Him up on the cross - God highly lifted Him up to the highest place - above all authority and power

We exalt Christ when we present His crucifixion as the ONLY WAY for our salvation

Why do this?

because of Liberalism (crept in during the 8th and 19th centuries)

downgraded the birth of Christ, His miracles, as well as His death and resurrection

because of the modern gospel

Jesus is a “friend”, is cool, and likes us just as we are

man is inherently good

to emphasize that salvation was not a reward for our goodness, but the result of God’s judgment of sin on the cross of Christ

We cannot exalt Christ without humbling ourselves!

John 3:30 NKJV

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

exalting Christ means giving up on my own means of salvation

exalting Christ means surrending my rebellious disposition

Conclusion

The power that draws people to Christ IS NOT in -

our ability to preach and teach

our beautiful presentation of the gospel

The power IS CHRIST HIMSELF!

John 12:32 NKJV

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

He will do the work of drawing people in

Our job is to LIFT HIM UP!