Jesus lifted up

So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.”

John 8:28

Three times in John’s gospel Jesus talks about being “lifted up” (3:14; 8:28; 12:32). Each time these two words carry a lot of meaning. They signify His coming death and resurrection, but also His exaltation, worship, and Lordship. And the truth is believed BECAUSE the Son of Man is lifted up.

Each passage looks something like this:

• 3:14 - lifting up pictured in the bronze snake. - belief in Him brings eternal life.
• 8:28 - lifted up by crucifixion by His enemies. - knowledge of His authority and obedience to the Father.
• 12:32 - lifted up for the world to see.  - all people will be drawn to King Jesus by Jesus.

And now, Jesus is lifted up in worship, obedience, and praise because He was lifted up on the cross, paying our redemption, raised to defeat death and to rule our hearts! All our hope, all our joy, all our meaning is found in the fact that Jesus willingly gave Himself to be nailed to that cross, lifted up, so that looking to Him we now live. Be lifted up, O Lord!