By: Juliet Constantine

“‘And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.’ This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” (John 12:32-33 NKJV)

It’s amazing how we sometimes forget God’s goodness. With each trial, we sometimes murmur and complain, forgetting how God had led in times past. This seems to be a people thing, and this practice always incurs God’s wrath. Yet, we seem never to learn that thanksgiving is always better. When you lift something or someone up, the focal point automatically turns upward and the object of attention becomes the thing or person that’s lifted up.

A story is recorded in Numbers 21 of Israel’s ingratitude towards God and their customary murmuring and complaining. God was angry at them for their unthankful attitude and sent fiery serpents that bit and killed many of them. When the people cried out for help, Moses was instructed to make “a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” (v8). The people’s attention was directed heavenward. Those who looked in faith to the fiery serpent received healing.

Similarly, in dialogue with His listeners, Jesus made mention of the gift of salvation to all by His statement in today’s text. He said that if He was lifted up, He would draw all peoples to Himself. No one, then, knew that He spoke of the type of death He would receive. I believe that Jesus, looking further down into history, saw what His death would accomplish. That’s why He could later mention the experience in Numbers 21 when He said: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)

From history, we know that Jesus was lifted up on the cross – a sacrifice He made for all. But what can I do to continue lifting Him up – not on a cross but in my life?

I can lift Him up in singing, in praising, in witnessing, in expressing my thankfulness for His countless blessings, and so many other ways. We can lift Him higher by exalting His holy name. Too many of God’s children prefer to live in “Camp Complaining” than on “Praise Highway”. People want to see and hear something different. They too are fed up with economic problems and all the storms that are being experienced. They need hope. We can give them hope. We can help to change their focal point so they can look upwards. We need to lift up Jesus so that they can see Him.

In a country where many seem to be putting away the God in whom our ancestors trusted, we need to lift Him up. In minds that seem to think that Jesus has become irrelevant, we need to lift Him up so that all can see that He has not changed. He is still the one and only true God; in-spite-of the removal of His name from prominent places, and the forbidding of the mention of His name even in schools. We need to lift Him up. Jesus promised that when He is lifted up, others would be drawn to Him. Do you want to see change in your life, your home, and in your society? Lift Jesus up. Lift Him higher and exalt His holy name.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that we will be more effective when we lift up Jesus. Please help us to be brave and lift Him up for all to see and hear. In His name we pray, amen.

Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)