Lift Up Jesus!

Daily Reading: John 12

Scripture Focus: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.  (John 12.32)

Devotional Thought: In John 12, some Greeks came to Jesus' disciples with a simple request.  "We wish to see Jesus."  Jesus responded to the request obliquely by saying, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12.32).

All around, there are people who wish to see Jesus.  How are we going to show him to them?  Very simply – by lifting him up.  But how are we to do that?

• Jesus was talking about his crucifixion when he said he would be lifted up from the earth.  We are naturally drawn to beauty, but the spectacle of the cross is not a beautiful thing.  The love of God behind the sacrifice is what is beautiful!  God’s beautiful love is found in the cross!

• We lift up Jesus when we carry our own crosses.  When we adopt the serving, giving, self-denying spirit of Christ, people will see Jesus in us. 

• We lift up Jesus when we are holy and loving.  A weak, powerless gospel that does not transform a life, will not draw anyone.

• We also lift up Jesus when we invite people to know him.  In the gospels, I am struck by how the early followers of Jesus almost always told someone else about him.

• Finally, we lift up Jesus in our worship.  The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of his people (Psalm 22.3).  When we gather in the name of Jesus and lift him up, he comes in response to our worship.  People desire a genuine encounter with the living God.  So, let’s lift up Jesus in worship!

Let us lift up Jesus!

Prayer: I lift you up, Jesus!  I lift you up!  You're the only One we really need to see.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 36.1-6

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

4 He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD.