This he said, signifying what death he should die.
To be lifted up meant He would die by crucifixion on the cross at Calvary, raised between heaven and earth in a cruel and shameful death as though a guilty sinner. That death was the necessary sacrifice and propitiation for human sin, for only by dying like a grain of wheat falling into the ground could the work of redemption be accomplished. By it He draws people of every nation to Himself, opening the way of life to both Jews and Gentiles, breaking down the wall of partition and gathering a worldwide harvest. At the same time His cross brings judgment upon the world and casts out its prince, breaking Satan's hold and claim, refuting his accusations, vindicating God and His Son, and revealing God's love to the universe. That same sacrifice lights up the world and restores the defaced image of God in humanity, making a family of believing saints sons of God who will inhabit the heavenly home, so the crucified Savior must be lifted up before the world as the hope of eternal life.
Meaning and Historical Setting
The saying about being lifted up signifies the kind of death Jesus would die, death on the cross by crucifixion at Calvary. To be lifted up from the earth meant to die lifted on the cross. It was the manner of His death, crucifixion, not another form of execution.
That lifting up was a cruel, ignominious death, lifted between heaven and earth as though He were a guilty sinner. It was exaltation through humiliation, the cross with all its attending horrors yet blazing with glory. These were words spoken just before His betrayal and death.
That public death on the cross was made possible by Roman rule, since the Jewish authorities could not impose capital punishment and crucifixion was a Roman method. Otherwise He might have been stoned, and the prophecy of His public death on the cross would not have been fulfilled. Though troubled by the suffering before Him, He accepted that hour so the Father's name would be glorified.
Redemption and Cosmic Victory
The death signified is the necessary sacrifice and propitiation for human sin, for only by His dying, like a grain of wheat falling into the ground and dying, could the work of redemption be accomplished and a worldwide harvest of salvation be gathered. That death is the crisis of the world, by which, becoming the propitiation, He brings people to God. Through being lifted up on the cross He draws people from every nation to Himself, and both men and angels are drawn to Him. His infinite sacrifice by which He draws the world to Himself calls Christians to help bring the world to Him.
His death for humanity's salvation opened the way of life to Jews and Gentiles, breaking down the wall of partition reared to keep others from privilege and gathering nations, tribes, and peoples. By becoming the propitiation for the sins of men He lights up the world. The cross with all its attending horrors blazes with glory in reproducing and restoring the defaced image of God in humanity. The result is a family of believing saints who receive Him and are given power to become sons of God to finally inhabit the heavenly home and inherit heaven.
The cross brings judgment on the world and casts out its prince, for by it Satan is judged and cast out and his hold and claim over human beings are broken. In this God and His Son are shown to be just and are justified in dealing with Satan's rebellion, and Satan's accusations against God are refuted. The cross reveals God's love to the universe, makes heaven accessible to humanity, and removes the stain Satan brought upon heaven so that sin will never enter there again. He was lifted up and crucified for humanity, and He rose from the tomb as the resurrection and the life.
Proclaiming the Lifted Savior
Being lifted up signified the kind of death to be died, death at Calvary on the cross by crucifixion. He is the hope of eternal life and must be lifted up. Presenting the Man of Calvary lifts Him up as the source of light and knowledge. The call is to lift up Jesus, to dwell on His love for fallen humanity, and to uplift the crucified Savior.
His crucifixion displays self-sacrifice, humiliation, goodness, and compassion. When people behold Him their hearts are moved. They are won to His cause.
His death is the death by which He draws the world to Himself. That infinite sacrifice calls Christians to help bring the world to Him.
To be lifted up meant He would die by crucifixion on the cross at Calvary, raised between heaven and earth in a cruel and shameful death as though a guilty sinner.
That death was the necessary sacrifice and propitiation for human sin, for only by dying like a grain of wheat falling into the ground could the work of redemption be accomplished.
By it He draws people of every nation to Himself, opening the way of life to both Jews and Gentiles, breaking down the wall of partition and gathering a worldwide harvest.
At the same time His cross brings judgment upon the world and casts out its prince, breaking Satan's hold and claim, refuting his accusations, vindicating God and His Son, and revealing God's love to the universe.
That same sacrifice lights up the world and restores the defaced image of God in humanity, making a family of believing saints sons of God who will inhabit the heavenly home, so the crucified Savior must be lifted up before the world as the hope of eternal life.
Meaning and Historical Setting
The saying about being lifted up signifies the kind of death Jesus would die, death on the cross by crucifixion at Calvary. To be lifted up from the earth meant to die lifted on the cross. It was the manner of His death, crucifixion, not another form of execution.
That lifting up was a cruel, ignominious death, lifted between heaven and earth as though He were a guilty sinner. It was exaltation through humiliation, the cross with all its attending horrors yet blazing with glory. These were words spoken just before His betrayal and death.
That public death on the cross was made possible by Roman rule, since the Jewish authorities could not impose capital punishment and crucifixion was a Roman method. Otherwise He might have been stoned, and the prophecy of His public death on the cross would not have been fulfilled. Though troubled by the suffering before Him, He accepted that hour so the Father's name would be glorified.
Redemption and Cosmic Victory
The death signified is the necessary sacrifice and propitiation for human sin, for only by His dying, like a grain of wheat falling into the ground and dying, could the work of redemption be accomplished and a worldwide harvest of salvation be gathered. That death is the crisis of the world, by which, becoming the propitiation, He brings people to God. Through being lifted up on the cross He draws people from every nation to Himself, and both men and angels are drawn to Him. His infinite sacrifice by which He draws the world to Himself calls Christians to help bring the world to Him.
His death for humanity's salvation opened the way of life to Jews and Gentiles, breaking down the wall of partition reared to keep others from privilege and gathering nations, tribes, and peoples. By becoming the propitiation for the sins of men He lights up the world. The cross with all its attending horrors blazes with glory in reproducing and restoring the defaced image of God in humanity. The result is a family of believing saints who receive Him and are given power to become sons of God to finally inhabit the heavenly home and inherit heaven.
The cross brings judgment on the world and casts out its prince, for by it Satan is judged and cast out and his hold and claim over human beings are broken. In this God and His Son are shown to be just and are justified in dealing with Satan's rebellion, and Satan's accusations against God are refuted. The cross reveals God's love to the universe, makes heaven accessible to humanity, and removes the stain Satan brought upon heaven so that sin will never enter there again. He was lifted up and crucified for humanity, and He rose from the tomb as the resurrection and the life.
Proclaiming the Lifted Savior
Being lifted up signified the kind of death to be died, death at Calvary on the cross by crucifixion. He is the hope of eternal life and must be lifted up. Presenting the Man of Calvary lifts Him up as the source of light and knowledge. The call is to lift up Jesus, to dwell on His love for fallen humanity, and to uplift the crucified Savior.
His crucifixion displays self-sacrifice, humiliation, goodness, and compassion. When people behold Him their hearts are moved. They are won to His cause.
His death is the death by which He draws the world to Himself. That infinite sacrifice calls Christians to help bring the world to Him.