Lifted Up

Mark 16:1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. 12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” (John 12:32.)

Here is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and His doctrine of salvation.

Earlier, Jesus had said, (in John 3:14,) “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”

Of course Jesus is speaking of the crucifixion, and everything that must take place in His death - accomplishing Perfect sacrificial payment for the sin of ALL mankind. In His crucifixion, Jesus was indeed lifted up upon a brutal, excruciating cross.

Doctrinally, He was also relating the measure of faith it would require to be saved. ONLY those who followed the instruction to look upon the brazen serpent as it was lifted up were spared from death. Those who refused to look at the serpent, (a depiction of their own sin – died.)

Jesus was explaining how no one would be forced to come to Him, but all would be “drawn,” wooed, loved - enhanced to come by the Holy Spirit of God, not at the point of force.

And on the day of His resurrection, we see yet another way in which Jesus was “lifted up from the earth.”

It was not just His crucifixion which saves those who are drawn to Him – it is also His resurrection! It is not just the fact He died; it is also the fact He conquered death and dying!

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

-Pastor Bill