Reading – thinking of going up to worship the Lord
Many went up to Jerusalem (v20)
Quote from Tom Baker: ‘Jesus was continually going up by stopping down’
Jesus was going up to the cross
He was fulfilling the words of operational duties prophecy – e.g. Zechariah
He steadfastly set His face towards the cross
He did the Father’s will
He knew what was coming / Jesus knew He would be lifted up
John 3:14 – "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life"
Followed by famous gospel words
John 8:28 – "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He"
Jesus applies the Divine name of God – "I AM" – to Himself, on at least 7 occasions
John 12:31-32 – "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am ifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
What does it mean?
Jesus was to be lifted up on the cross
Signifying His death on the cross (John 12:33)
Explanation of the cross
Physical pain was not the worst of His suffering
Spiritual pain – He was bearing the sin of the world as a substitutionary sacrifice
Mary and Simeon – knew in part of Jesus’ future death on the cross
Example of the Bronze Serpent – from the Old Testament
Look to Him and be saved
Example of Charles Spurgeon
Look to Jesus in faith
Heb 12:2 – "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"
Being lifted up in death, Jesus can lift you up to eternal life!
Jesus was to be lifted up from the grave
Peter spoke about Jesus’ death and resurrection
Acts 2:23-24 – "[Jesus] being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it."
Jesus had power to lay down and raise up His life
There were many witness of Jesus resurrection
Because He lives, we can live forever in His name – eternal life
Jesus was to be lifted up to heaven
Jesus would ascend to His Father
John 12:32
Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to continue His work on the earth
Quote from Don Carson
Isa 52-53 – the suffering servant and the highly exalted servant! "Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high" Isa 52:13
Acts 2:32-33 – "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear."
Eph 1:20-21 – "which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come."
To be lifted up to be seated on the throne of God – not just a resurrection or ascension, but a Coronation
All these events are so closely linked it is difficult to separate them – Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension and Coronation
Giving the Holy Spirit
Interceding for us before the Father
His triumphant return
Satan is defeated and Christ has won the victory
John 12:31 "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out"
What does this mean for you and me?
For those who believe – we can be raised with Christ
Eph 2:6-7 – "and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."
This gives a responsibility to live an appropriate life as a servant of the King of Heaven
