Lifted Up
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Lifted Up
Jesus continues to prepare His disciples and the people for His impending death. He tells them that he must be “lifted up.” Without a context most of us would think of being lifted up as a good thing, something that refers to being held up with honor or prestige. However we know from history that His being lifted up was not a going to be badge of honor but rather a criminal’s death.
(John 12:27-50 NIV) ""Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" 35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal them." 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.""
Digging Deeper
1. In John 12:28 a voice from the heavens is heard. Whose voice was it? Whenever God speaks from the heavens it is a rare and momentous event. Read the following passages; note what the event was, and what was communicated to those who heard the voice. (Deuteronomy 4:33 and compare Exodus 19:19; Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 9:1-8; Daniel 4:29-33; Acts 11:5-10 and John 12:28-32). What did God say and why was it important enough for Him to say it? Does what He said to them have any relevance to our lives today? How?
2. In John 12:32 Jesus says He will be lifted up. What does He mean when He says He will be lifted up? (See John 8:28; John 3:14-16). What are the results of His being lifted up? In John 3:14 Jesus refers to an event in Numbers 21:4-9. Why did Jesus refer to that event in Israel’s history? What does it teach us about His being lifted up?
3. In question 1 we saw God speak about Jesus; in question two we learned about the necessity and reason of His death. What relevance does His teaching in John 12:42-50 have to those two events? Is it enough that we simply know the history and theology of Jesus life and death? What should our response(s) be to knowing these things? How does your life, the ways in which you live, the things you talk about, reflect the lessons you have learned in this study?
Posted by Tech Ministry at 10/10/2010 11:27 AM 
Categories: Message Series:Gospel of John, Jerry Rahm, 2010
Tags: John 12
Categories: Message Series:Gospel of John, Jerry Rahm, 2010
Tags: John 12
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