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Everything God does is the display of some aspect of his glory, his beauty, his greatness. And in this text, John calls us to think of the four ways that God glorifies himself at this supreme ?hour? in Jesus? existence in the hour of death and resurrection. {{more: continue …}}?This is the hour when the seed falls into the ground and dies and bears much fruit. We see some of that amazing fruit today in our children, grandchildren, spouse/significant other, this wonderful creation and in each other.?
God glorifies himself in the death and resurrection of Jesus in these four ways. First, God glorifies himself by judging the world. Second, God glorifies himself by casting out the ruler of this world, Satan. Third, God glorifies himself by drawing all of his sheep to Jesus. Finally, God glorifies himself by shining as the Light of the world in the lives of those who believe in Jesus. This is the order that they come in the text beginning with 12:31a; 12:31; 12:32 and 12:36.
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My focus is on the third one. God glorifies himself by drawing all of his sheep to Jesus. John 12:32, ?And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.?
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This might mean that the death of Christ, when preached with clarity, has a general drawing effect on all people. I think it means that when Christ died ?when he was lifted up on the cross ? he actually secured ? obtained, guaranteed ? the home-coming of his sheep, the ingathering of his children.?
In other words his death not only makes it possible to offer salvation freely and truly to everyone, so that ?whoever believes on him might have eternal life? (John 3:16), but his death also secures with certainty the bringing in of all his sheep (John 10:16), the gathering of ?the children of God who are scattered abroad? (John 11:52).
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Here are the reasons I think this is what Jesus means.
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The “all in verse 12:32 is not just God’s chosen people, the Jews, but all HIs children, all the elect. from every tribe, every nation all sheep from all over the world.
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The word ?draw? is used in John 6:44, where Jesus says, ?No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.? If the sense is similar, it?s a real, effective drawing. It?s not an attempt to draw which fails. It?s a successful bringing to Christ.
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Therefore, God multiplies the ways he gets glory in the death of his Son. He glorifies himself in the death of Christ not only by making salvation available to all, so that whoever believes may have eternal life (John 3:16), but also by securing with all his own, all the sheep, all the children of God, all the elect who were chosen in Jesus before the foundation of the world.?
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?When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all of them to myself.? And my Father will get great glory for this triumphant salvation.
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Praise God!
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See you on Sunday as we continue this journey to the Cross with Jesus.
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“I don’t know how, but I know WHO!”
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Peace,
Pastor Nelda
