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“THE
SON OF MAN MUST BE LIFTED UP”
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BIBLE
SCRIPTURES
(JOHN 3:14, 15)
Here in (John 3:14) it says that “THE SON OF MAN MUST BE
LIFTED UP”. This is another “divine
imperative” in the Word of God. It is
something that is absolutely necessary.
He must be lifted up. We should first identify the person who is
called the “son of man”. The phrase “son
of man” is found many times in the Old Testament scriptures. It means man on the earth with all his
weakness and frailty that is inherent in human nature. In (John 3:14) the title “Son of Man” refers to the Lord Jesus
Christ”. He takes this title and thus
identifies Himself with humanity. In the
New Testament, “the Son of man” is the designation that Christ most frequently
applied to Himself while here on earth.
It relates Him to the earth and establishes His absolute identification
with mankind. He was truly man naturally
and physically like that of all men.
But, He is also truly God being the Son of God. While here on Earth, He was both God and man
in one person. It says in (1 Timothy 3:16) “Great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh”. His
humanity was perfect morally, possessing the quality of sinless ness, unlike
that of any other man. Since “THE SON OF MAN MUST BE LIFTED UP” there are three
things we want to consider about the “lifting up”, the cross work, of the Lord
Jesus Christ, as found in (John 3:14, 15). These include the
following:
1. THE
NECESSITY OF THE CROSS (WHY MUST HE BE LIFTED UP)
2. THE
DEATH ON THE CROSS (WHY DID HE HAVE TO SUFFER AND DIE)
3. THE
BLESSING OF THE CROSS (SALVATION FOR EVERYONE THAT BELIEVES)
- THE
NECESSITY OF THE CROSS (WHY MUST HE BE LIFTED UP)
The cross was an absolute necessity. HE MUST BE
LIFTED UP. An investigation of (John 3:14) will help understand why this is so. It says in this verse, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up”. The reference to the story of
Moses is found in the Old Testament scriptures, in the book of (Numbers
21:4-9). This passage can be considered
by its revelation of “3 GREAT THINGS”. These are as follows;
- There was a “GREAT SIN” that was committed. The children of Israel were passing through the wilderness on
their way to the Promised Land. The
people became grieved or discouraged because of their journey. They complained to God about their
circumstances and about the provision that God provided for them. They said “our
soul loatheth this light bread” (the manna from Heaven). The “manna or bread from heaven”
is a type or picture of Christ. To
complain against God’s leading and God’s provision was to complain against
God Himself. This was their “Great Sin”. It is a picture of man’s rejection
of God’s Son and God’s Savior, the one who is called “the true bread from Heaven” (John 6:32, 33). My friend, have you ever received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If not, you are rejecting Him. Neutral you can not be. You have either received Him or you are
rejecting Him.
- Their “great sin” resulted in a “GREAT NEED”. It says in (Numbers
21:6) “The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the
people, and much people of Israel died.” The
people sinned against the Lord.
Their sin brought them death.
It says in (Romans 6:23) “The wages of sin is
death”. It says also in (Ezekiel
18:20) “The soul that sinneth, it shall die”. It
is the same for you Dear Reader.
You have sinned against God because it says in (Romans 3:23)”All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. Like
the children of Israel, you too, have a “GREAT NEED”. Ahead is
death and judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)”It is appointed unto men once to
die, but after this the judgment”. Men and women have been “bitten by the viper
of sin” and are condemned to eternal death. Your
“great need” is salvation and deliverance from the wrath to come.
- The “great sin” that resulted in the “great
need” of the people led God to make a “GREAT PROVISION”. It
says in (Numbers 21:8,9) “The Lord said unto
Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall
come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live”. “It came to pass, that if a serpent had
bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived”. This leads us to the second point
we want to consider regarding the cross work of the Lord Jesus Christ:
- THE
DEATH ON THE CROSS (WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO SUFFER AND TO DIE)
Notice the words again
of (John 3:14) “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, EVEN SO MUST
THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP”. The reason that the Lord Jesus must be lifted up
on the cross, the reason why He had to suffer and to die, was to provide
salvation for poor, lost, helpless sinners.
He alone is the Savior of sinners.
You can not do one thing to merit or inherit God’s salvation. Dear reader, what are you depending upon to
get you into Heaven? Are you depending
upon your church membership, your baptism, your priest or pastor? None of these things can save you. You’re so called righteousness or good works
can not save you. The scripture says in
(Romans 3:10) “There is none righteous, no not one”.
It says also, (Titus 3:5) “Not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He
saved us (or will save us). The Hymn writer wrote the following words in
this regard;
“Not the labor of my hands,
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin cannot atone ---
Thou must save, and Thou alone”.
God’s “GREAT PROVISION” is in the giving of
His Beloved Son. It says this in that
wonderful verse in (John 3:16) “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. It
took the perfect sacrifice of “the Lamb of God” (the Lord Jesus Christ) to meet
and satisfy all the demands of a Holy and Righteous God. It says in (Hebrews
2:9) “By the grace of God He tasted death for every man”. It says also, (1 Peter 3:18) “Christ … suffered for sins, the just
for the unjust, that He might bring us to God”.
Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness. It is a type or
picture of Jesus Christ being lifted up on the cross. When He hung upon that cross, He was bearing
your heavy load of sins. He was dying in
your place, paying the price you should have paid. Dear reader, does this touch your heart? Have you ever considered what He did for
you? Have you ever stopped to consider
that He died for you personally?
The bitten Israelites
did two things to survive their
death sentence. First, they repented of their sins.
They said in (Numbers 21:7) “We have sinned, for
we have spoken against the Lord”. Second, they “looked and lived”. It says in (Numbers
21:9) “It came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he
lived. This leads us to the
third point we want to consider about the “lifting up”, the cross work, of the
Lord Jesus Christ;
- THE
BLESSING OF THE CROSS (SALVATION FOR EVERYONE THAT BELIEVES).
Dear reader, have you
ever repented of your sins? Repentance
has to do with sin. It has to do with
our attitude toward God. Repentance is a
change of mind as to who shall rule over us.
It is a decision of your will that God shall rule and self and Satan
will be disposed. “HAVE I REPENTED”? It is a
question of vital importance to
every person. If sinners do not repent
they will be lost eternally. The Lord Jesus said in (Luke 13:3, 5) “Except ye repent,
ye shall all likewise perish”. It
says in (Acts 17:30) “God … now commandeth all men
everywhere to repent”. Notice the words of this verse closely;
·
“GOD”
– “God” is the speaker. Your creator.
The One before whom you must stand and give an account.
·
“COMMANDS”
– It is a Divine commandment that
you repent. God is not asking or
begging. He is commanding.
·
“NOW”
– When should you repent? The answer is “NOW”. There is urgency about this matter.
·
“ALL
MEN” – There are no racial
exceptions or exclusions. “All” means you my friend.
·
“EVERYWHERE”
– There are no geographical
exceptions or exclusions. Dear reader,
no matter where you live in this world, you are included.
·
“TO
REPENT” – This is what you must
do. You
must repent. There is no salvation
without repentance. The message of the
Gospel is “repentance toward God, and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ”. (Acts 20:21).
Why does God command all
men to repent? The reason is found in
the following verse (Acts 17:31) “Because He hath
appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that
Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in
that He hath raised Him (Jesus Christ) from the dead”. This is the reason why you must repent
my friend. Judgment is ahead and the
Judge is the Lord Jesus Christ. You will
stand and give an account before the one that you rejected. The Judge is the same one who died on the
cross for your sins so that you might escape the judgment of God.
The Israelite not only
repented. It says that “when he beheld the serpent of brass, HE LIVED”. The lesson is this my friend, you must
repent and “look to the cross and behold the Blessed Savior who died in your
guilty room and stead”. You must believe
in Him. You must put your faith and
trust in Him. Have you ever looked to the cross for salvation? The hymn writer wrote these lovely words
about looking to the cross and the blessing that follows;
Upon the cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me:
And from my smitten heart with
tears
Two wonders I confess
The wonder of His glorious love,
And my own worthlessness
Will you “look and live”. It says in (John 3:36) “He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the
wrath of God abideth on him”. Dear reader, as you read this message you are at “the
crossroads” in your life. Which way will
you go? Will you reject the Savior and
God’s offer of salvation? Or, will you
receive Him, by faith, to be your Lord and Savior? It’s your decision and your responsibility.
Please give this matter your most serious
attention. Will you be a believer or a
non-believer? Your eternal destiny
depends on your decision.
CHRISTIAN MESSENGER