How do you draw people unto yourself?The Lord was exalted on the cross.The Lord used the cross to draw all people to Himself.We come to the Lord through His cross and with our cross.The cross of Christ makes perfect sense because, through it, God's justice was satisfied. God's love is supremely demonstrated. God's glory is magnified. 1 Corinthians 1:18 " the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Showing Contempt. At one point in Julius Caesar’s political career, feelings ran so high against him that he thought it best to leave Rome. He sailed for the island of Rhodes, but his ship was attacked by pirates and he was captured. The pirates demanded a ransom of 12,000 gold pieces. While waiting for the ransom to be paid, Caesar spent almost 40 days with his captors, jokingly telling the pirates that he would someday capture and crucify them all. The kidnappers were amused, but when the ransom was paid and Caesar was freed, the first thing he did was gather a fleet and pursue the pirates. They were captured and crucified... all of them! Such was the Romans’ attitude toward crucifixion. It was used to show extreme contempt for their hated enemies and worst criminals. (Today in the Word, Nov. 23, 1992)How do you catch people’s attention? How do you draw people unto yourself? You put on a show. You advertise yourself. You play entertaining and moving music. You display beauty, grandiosity, riches, and power. People will come Or, you give away money or gifts for free. Or, you go through the long process of showing friendship, love and affection until people respond.In our text today, the Lord makes a shocking announcement that He would draw all kinds of people unto Himself through His crucifixion. What? Yes, that is what He said. He will draw people from all nations, from all walks of life, and from all generations until the last day of the world through the ancient means of torture and execution used by the Romans for their hated enemies and the worst criminals. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death He was going to die. What kind of death did Jesus die? Through crucifixion! Why? How come?That method of drawing people is very unusual. But it worked and still works. The Lord succeeded. He drew all of us to Him, plus millions of people down to the ages and millions more until He returns through His cross. Christianity became known as the faith with a cross. The cross has become the symbol of our faith in the Lord Jesus.In the past, the Lord drew people through a call and a set of amazing promises like what He did to Abraham. “Go from your country… to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you… Then, God drew people through a display of His power. He caught Moses’ attention through the bush that burns but does not get burned up. In Isaiah 1, He drew people near by wisdom and reasoning. “Come now, let us reason together.” In Isa. 55, He drew people by giving them wonderful blessings. “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”In our text however, the Lord draws people through a different way. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” If you just stay with that verse, you would think that the Savior speaks of exaltation or promotion like a coronation or a display of power or a show of glory. We have the idea that if only God would perform several miracles, people would flock to Him. But the next verse clearly says that the Lord was referring to His crucifixion. 33 He said this to show by what kind of death He was going to die. He would draw all people, meaning people from all nations, from all walks of life, and from every generation unto Himself by dying on the cross. What is so special about the cross?The theme for our celebrations and event this year would be the Cross of Christ. Why it makes perfect sense. The apostle Paul says in Gal. 6:14; “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Christians boast in the way their Master died, the ancient form of torture and execution used by the Romans for their hated enemies and worst criminals. Why? It is because we think about it that we see in the cross of Christ the amazing display of God’s power, wisdom, beauty, riches, sincerity, faithfulness and humility. The cross of Christ makes perfect sense because through it; God’s justice was satisfied, God’s love is supremely demonstrated, and God’s glory magnified. Of course, you have to know Christ and belong to Him for it to make sense to you. In fact, if the cross of Christ does not make sense to you, it means that you are not yet saved. 1 Cor. 1:18 the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.Text = John 12:32-33 …1. The Lord was exalted on the cross.How could a person be glorified by means of an execution? How could he attain greatness by dying a shameful and painful death? Gilbert K. Chesterton said; “The cross cannot be defeated, for it is defeat.” It is the defeat of sin, the devil, and death. The cross is the defeat of all that are against God.In verse 28 of John 12, the Lord said to the Father; “Father, glorify Your name.” A voice from heaven said: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” How will the Father glorify His name again? By context and implication, through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then in verse 31, the Savior said; “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” How will the judgment of this world come about? How will Satan, the ruler of this world, be cast out? By context and implication, through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. God was exalted on the cross because on the cross, the Lord defeated His enemies.In Col. 2:15, Paul wrote that on the cross; God disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Christ. So, the Lord not only defeated, but also humiliated Satan on the cross. In John 16:33, the Lord comforted His disciples by saying that in Him, they will have peace. They will have tribulation in the world, but they could take heart because He has overcome the world. The thing or the means that made you defeat your enemies is the thing that exalts you. The Lord was exalted on the cross because it was on the cross that God fairly and decisively defeated His enemies. On the cross, good triumphed over evil. Sin was punished and justice was served, but also grace and mercy were shown. Jesus suffered and died on the cross so that our sins would be punished and God’s justice would be served. But it was Jesus, not us sinners, who suffered and died on the cross showing that God is gracious and merciful.32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth” … The phrase “lifted up” immediately refers to the crucifixion. However, it also speaks of glorification. To lift someone means to exalt that someone. The prophet Isaiah foretold that in the suffering and death of God’s Righteous Servant, God’s Righteous Servant who is Jesus he shall be high and lifted up, exalted (Isa. 52:13-14). The Savior was glorified by being crucified! This tells and assures us that there is glory in sacrifice.One reason why we and billions of others through generations love, adore, and worship Jesus is that He was crucified for us. And in heaven, one reason why the beings in heaven, like the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders, worship Jesus is because He was crucified. They sing a song to Him saying; “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You -ransomed people for God” (Rev. 5:7-8). One reason why the countless number of angels of heaven adore Jesus is because He was crucified. They too sing a song to Him that says; “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:12). And one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God. And one day, every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, will say, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (Jesus) be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13).On the cross of Christ, God is shown as both righteous and gracious, both holy and loving, consuming demanding and yet self-sacrificing, both great and humble. On the cross, the Lord Jesus showed that He is both the Shepherd and the sacrificial Lamb, the Just and the Justifier of those who trust Him. Perhaps that is why the writer of Hebrews wrote that Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him (Heb. 12:2). Through the cross, the Lord was, is, and will be forever exalted.2. The Lord used the cross to draw all people to Himself.Devotion. It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, “What will you give me if I release you?” Half of my wealth,” was the prince’s reply… “If I release your children?” The prince replied’ “Everything I possess.” … Cyrus then said; “If I release your wife, what will you give me?” The prince answered; “Your Majesty, I will give myself.” Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, “Wasn’t Cyrus a handsome man!” With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, “I didn’t notice. I could only keep my eyes on you—the one who was willing to give himself for me” (Source unknown).Whenever I watch the movie “The Passion of Christ,” I am always moved to tears. Whenever
Our text presents that as we wait for our Master, our Master waits for us. Waiting by being ready for service Waiting by staying awake The surprising reward for those who wait As we start another year, we are nearer to that time when God again will show the immeasurable riches of His grace through Christ Jesus. Continue to wait on Him for He also waits for us.
When Christians faithfully do God's work, sometimes they can divide people. Those who oppose the gospel of peace and those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can never please all people. Often times there must be a response of faith to the offer of grace for the hearer to be blessed. Miracles are not enough to elicit faith and can be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Therefore, filter them with the Truth, with the Word of God. The Christian life is not easy but an adventure. In the world, you will have tribulation but take heart, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Are you in?
If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us (Judges 6:13) - that the works of God might be displayed in Him (John 9:3) - if we trust God, He will upholds the value of His name, the work and glory of His name
If God is for us, who can be against us? Since God did not spare His own Son, He will certainly, definitely, graciously gives us all things for our good. The rock solid promise of God is that He will give us what we needs to accomplish His will in order to conform us to the likeness of Jesus.
Jacob was far from ideal. He was a liar, a cheat and doubting man, yet God still blesses Him as promised... Why? If God keeps His promises to Jacob, what about us? Why does God bless us? This is all because He is good, full of grace and faithful.
We are wary of the unknown. That is why it takes courage to venture into the uncharted waters. It takes faith to get out of our comfort zones. The heroes of our faith ventured into the unknown and accepted the changes God brought into their lives. Their lives did not become easy. They had to make sacrifices. They were not always shielded from dangers and losses. But they were protected and guided by God. Like Jacob, we will make mistakes. We will fail or sin. However, the Lord is in control even when we ware facing unknown circumstances and drastic changes in our lives. At times, God will allow us to learn painful lessons from them. But He can use them for our good. He will not leave us no forsake us like what He did to Jacob
Pastor A.W. Tozer remarked: " The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God and the Church is famishing for want of His Presence. The instant cure of most of our religious ills would be to enter the Presence in spiritual experience, to become suddenly aware that we are in God and that God is in us. Have you experienced the presence of the Lord? Have you had an encounter with God? Our texts tells us of Jacob's encounter with God.
Overarching the entire story of Isaac's family is God's sovereign will. It will happen one way or another. No one and nothing could stop it. The issue is how are we going to respond to the will of God when it is revealed to us. Whenever we do something that delights Him, that in itself is success. To do the opposite is a failure. Whenever we seek God's will and do God's way, we do right. Whenever we ignore God's will and do things our way, we do wrong.
In some areas of life, there are valid shortcuts that save time and effort. But in the areas of life that truly matter, we need to go the long way, wait and avoid cutting corners. Patience or endurance is hard but we need it. It is a necessity not only in life but more so in the Christian faith. Do not expect anything that is both good and lasting if you are not willing to wait for it. We can wait for the Lord because we can have confidence in the Lord. He will not fail. But we need endurance. Pray for it. Accept and embrace it. Develop it by God's grace.
For people like us who believe in god, it is not hard to do what is right. It is hard to do what is right always. It is not hard to believe and serve. It is hard to believe and serve until the end. The theme of our church for 2020 is "Waiting on the Lord." We will talk often about patience this year. Impatience is often a mark of immaturity. And God does now want us to stay immature. Perhaps, the best thing to do is to stop counting the days, weeks or years and just focus on God and continue doing what He has told us to do. We must let God do His work in His way and His time. Patient are the saved.
The word greet or greeting is found 105 times in the Bible - 12 times in the OT and 93 times in the NT. Greeting is not cultural or generational; It is biblical! let us talk about another Christmas greeting, the one given by an angel to a group of shepherds.
"Christmas is what you want it to be." That's what many say but what is it meant to be? Although, it has had pagan origins, Christianity has tried to redeem it for Jesus and has succeeded! However, it seems that we are forgetting what our brothers has worked for. Let us take this time to remember why we celebrate Christmas.
The Bible talks about the importance of greeting one another. It says that Christians must not be snubs. It tells us that giving greeting is the norm for us and should be extended even to those who are not greeting us. This month, let us talk about Christmas greetings. Today, let us talk about the greeting the angel Gabriel gave to the blessed Mary.
The phrase "same old, same old" means that something is redundant, repetitive or even boring. However, not everything new or different is better. Sometimes, it is best to remain the same. Except for lying about their wives, the extensive similarities between Isaac's experience and actions to that of Abraham's show that not all "same old, same old" is bad or boring. God can make all things new. But He is the good and perfect "Same Old, Same Old." The fact that He does not change is the foundation of our hope and the reason for our joy. We do not need another god, neither a different faith. We have the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Nature or nurture? Do children turn out the way they are because of how they were brought up or because of their inborn identity or character? Most would sat it is a mixture of both. The debate is which is more. In our story, we again encounter divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the family of Isaac Divine sovereignty does not negate human responsibility. It even allows and then demands the correct human response. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants were chosen of God. The NT tells us that all who trust in Christ Jesus are also chosen of God. Knowing that we're the chosen of God not only means we have great blessings but also greater blessings but also greater responsibility to do His will.
We say goodbye to Abraham by recognizing not only what God has done for Abraham but also Who God was to Abraham. We remember Abraham through his walk with God, how he lived his life in response to what God has done and who God is. That is an absolutely wonderful way to be known or remembered!
It was a strange way to find a wife. Stranger still, it succeeded in all counts. Perhaps the Holy Spirit gave a lot of details to the telling of the story because it clearly shows the greatness of God. Abraham's search for a wife for Isaac would have utterly failed if God was not in it. Perhaps the story was given the longest chapter in Genesis because it clearly shows divine providence and sovereignty with traces of human responsibility.
It seems strange that the longest chapter in the book of Genesis is about a man finding a wife for his son. Prov. 18:22 says; "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." Of course, not just any wife as Prov. 12:4 & 21:9 explains. But, how does a man find a good, if not an excellent wife? It was a strange way to look for a bride. Abraham's servant traveled far and search wide. In the NT, the church is called the bride of Christ Jesus. Jesus traveled far to seek you. He suffered and died that you may be His and He might be yours. He came to show the steadfast love of God that never ceases.
"The problem with hello is goodbye." ... The message today is morbid because the passage speaks about the death of Sarah. Death comes to all, but for them who belong to the Lord, death is just a temporary goodbye. In Christ, we shall continue to live and see each other again. Abraham bought Sarah's tomb at an exorbitant price. Our Savior Jesus bought our salvation and our resurrection at an infinite price! Abraham's first property in the promised land was a grave. It was also a grave where our inheritance from God was secured - the empty grave of the Lord Jesus, If we are in Christ and Christ is in us, then we are co-heirs of heaven and earth with Christ.