The statement “If I be lifted up” is found in John 12:32, which says “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” This statement was made by Jesus towards the end of His earthly ministry as He was preparing for His crucifixion. But what exactly did He mean by “If I be lifted up”?
There are a few key things to understand from this verse:
- Jesus is referring to His death on the cross. The phrase “lifted up” refers to being lifted up on a cross for crucifixion. This is made clear just two verses earlier in John 12:30 when it says “This voice came for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Here John explicitly states that being “lifted up” refers to Jesus’ crucifixion.
- Jesus saw His crucifixion as part of God’s divine plan. While the cross would seem shameful to most people, Jesus saw it bringing glory to God. In John 12:23 Jesus says “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” He saw the cross bringing glory to the Father as He willingly gave His life for the sins of the world.
- Through His crucifixion, Jesus would “draw all men” to Himself. Jesus was pointing ahead to the impact His death on the cross would have. As He was “lifted up” on the cross, the sacrificial nature of His death would become a magnet, drawing people from all nations to put their faith in Him. His crucifixion would provide atonement for sin, paving the way for people to be reconciled with God.
So in summary, when Jesus said “If I be lifted up,” He was referring to being crucified on the cross. He saw this as bringing glory to the Father and enabling Him to draw all people to salvation in Himself. His death would serve as atonement for sin, making reconciliation between God and man possible.
There are several other passages that help expand on this by showing that Christ’s death was according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge:
- Acts 2:23 – “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”
- Acts 4:27-28 – “For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”
- Isaiah 53:10 – “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”
Additionally, John 12:32 says that when Christ is lifted up, He will “draw all people” to Himself. This demonstrates the universal appeal of the gospel. Jesus’ death provides atonement for all people, not just certain groups. Any who put their faith in Him will be saved:
- John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
- 1 Timothy 2:3-6 – “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”
- 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
In summary, Jesus as the sinless Son of God dying on the cross provides the atoning sacrifice needed for people of all nations to be forgiven and reconciled to a holy God. This accomplished God’s divine plan of redemption for all who put their faith in Christ.
Now that we’ve covered the basic meaning of this verse, let’s explore some additional details and implications of Christ being “lifted up” on the cross:
It was a foreshadowing of being physically lifted up on the cross
When Jesus spoke of being “lifted up,” it served as a prediction and foreshadowing of the manner He would die. Crucifixion involved a person being lifted up on a wooden cross and suspended there until death. By speaking of being “lifted up,” Jesus was predicting the specific way He would die – hung on a cross for all to see.
We see this foreshadowed even earlier in Jesus’ ministry in John 3:14-15: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” Here Jesus draws a comparison between being “lifted up” and Moses lifting up the bronze serpent on a pole, enabling healing for the Israelites who looked upon it (Numbers 21:9). Just as those who looked upon the raised up serpent were healed, those looking to Christ lifted up on the cross in faith would receive spiritual healing and life.
It signified His sacrificial death for the forgiveness of sins
In addition to the physical act of being lifted up on the cross, Jesus was also pointing to the spiritual significance of His death. He came to give His life as a ransom, dying in the place of sinners so that their sins could be forgiven.
Isaiah 53:4-6 prophetically describes Christ’s sacrificial death hundreds of years before His birth:
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Similarly, just a few verses after John 12:32, Jesus declares in John 12:47 – “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” This reiterates that Christ’s purpose was to provide atonement and salvation through His sacrificial death, redemption made possible because He bore the penalty for sins.
It demonstrated Jesus’ commitment to fully obey the Father
Going to the cross involved great suffering and humility for Jesus. Yet He willingly subjected Himself to the cross because this was the Father’s plan. His willingness to be “lifted up” on the cross demonstrated His commitment to fully obey God the Father.
We see Jesus’ attitude of humble obedience in passages like Philippians 2:8: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” And in the Garden of Gethsemane, facing imminent death, Jesus prayed to the Father “not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). He went willingly to the cross in obedience to the Father’s plan.
Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father, and His death on the cross represented the culmination and supreme act of obedience. He laid down His life of His own accord in alignment with the Father’s will (John 10:17-18).
It allowed God’s love and mercy to be demonstrated through the offer of salvation
While those who crucified Jesus intended it only for pain and punishment, God intended it to demonstrate His infinite love and mercy. As 1 John 4:10 declares, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Because Christ bore the wrath deserved for sin, God could justly offer forgiveness and salvation to all who believe in His Son. Those who were once dead in sin could be made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:5). Without the lifting up of Christ, there would be no hope of redemption. But His sacrifice makes salvation available to all.
God’s mercy and grace is magnified in the lifting up of Jesus on the cross. Titus 3:4-7 speaks of this:
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Mercy and grace replaced judgement and condemnation because of Christ lifted up.
It dealt a decisive blow to Satan’s power and authority
There is a spiritual battle between God and the forces of darkness. When Jesus went to the cross, He delivered a crushing blow to Satan and the power of sin. Through His death and resurrection, Christ triumphed over evil.
The writer of Hebrews expressed it this way:
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14-15)
Other scriptures also speak of Christ’s work disarming demonic powers and authorities and putting them to public shame through the cross (Colossians 2:15). Victory was accomplished through Christ’s willing obedience even unto death.
When Jesus spoke of being “lifted up,” He had in view defeating the enemy and breaking sin’s grasp on people’s lives so they could be liberated. The cross dealt a death blow to Satan’s power and control.
It enabled Christ to draw all people to Himself
We’ve already seen how the cross provided the payment for sin required for forgiveness and salvation. But an additional aspect is that the cross serves as the means to actually draw people to Christ. Those who gaze upon Christ crucified and understand what He accomplished are drawn to Him in faith and repentance.
There is a magnetic quality about the lifting up of Christ on the cross. John 12:32 says “I…will draw all people to myself.” When the sinless Son of God suffers so unjustly it elicits a response. As people look upon Christ, they are moved with sorrow and gratitude, turning from sin and turning toward the Savior.
A key example of being drawn to Christ is Peter’s sermon in Acts 2. After explaining Christ’s death on the cross, Acts 2:37 says “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” They were drawn to respond to the Messiah whose crucifixion they now realized they were complicit in. The lifting up of Christ moved them to repentance.
So through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, He powerfully draws people to Himself. They see His great love displayed and His offer of amazing grace, moving their hearts to respond.
It provided an example for Christ’s followers to live by
Since Christ was lifted up on the cross, this set the pattern for Christians to follow – being willing to suffer and lay down their lives just as He did.Jesus said those who follow Him must deny themselves, take up their cross, and be ready to suffer for His name (Luke 9:23-24).
Peter encouraged believers that since “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example…When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten” (1 Peter 2:21-23). Therefore, Christians should be willing to suffer wrongfully as He did, keeping their eyes on eternity.
Paul said he had been crucified with Christ, no longer living for himself but living by faith (Galatians 2:20). The follower of Christ is called to a life of self-denial, sacrificial love, and suffering for the sake of the Gospel just as Jesus demonstrated by being lifted up.
It provided the grounds for Christ’s ultimate exaltation and glorification
The lifting up of Christ on the cross represented the lowest point – suffering, death, and bearing sin. Paradoxically, this also led to the highest exaltation possible. Because He perfectly accomplished redemption through the cross, God then highly exalted Jesus.
Philippians 2:8-9 puts it this way: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.”
The Father glorified the Son for completing the work of salvation. All authority and dominion was given to Him (Matthew 28:18). The name of Jesus was elevated above all others. From the depth of suffering came glory and honor because of Christ lifted up.
Therefore, while physically being “lifted up” on the cross represented immense suffering for Jesus, it also ultimately led to the greatest glorification possible through His perfect obedience to the Father’s will.
It opened the way for Christ’s bodily resurrection and ascension into heaven
The crucifixion of Jesus was not the end of the story. After being lifted up on the cross, He conquered death by rising again, appearing to many people over 40 days.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 summarizes it this way:
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
This resurrection demonstrated Christ’s authority over sin, death, and judgment. The cross was the gateway to resurrection life and eternal victory.
Furthermore, His death and resurrection paved the way for Jesus to ascend bodily into heaven. Acts 1:9 describes Christ being “lifted up” in this way at His ascension: “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”
The cross, resurrection, and ascension are all key parts of the same glorious sequence. As Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before Him.” The lifting up on the cross enabled Him to be lifted ultimately into heaven itself.
It is a picture of Christ’s pending return and final victory
When Jesus returns, He will complete the victory that began with being “lifted up” on the cross. Philippians 2 says that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. (Philippians 2:10-11)
Revelation 5:9 speaks of a new song sung to the Lamb who was slain – yet now stands triumphant and worthy to open the scrolls of the end times. What began with being lifted up in death will culminate with Christ exalted in glory before all creation.
The willing, sacrificial death of Jesus will be fully vindicated. The cross and the final victory go hand in hand. Without being lifted up, He could not return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Conclusion
When Jesus spoke of being “lifted up,” He was referring principally to His death by crucifixion. This sacrificial death was part of God’s established plan to provide atonement for sin and open the way for forgiveness and salvation for people from all nations. The cross demonstrated Christ’s supreme obedience to the Father and victory over the powers of darkness.
This great act of redemptive love through the cross serves to draw people to Christ in repentance and faith. His followers are called to live sacrificially just as He modeled. And the cross ultimately led to Christ’s resurrection and exaltation to the highest place, where He awaits the consummation of His final victory.
Christ being “lifted up” in death and judgment enabled those who believe to be lifted with Him into eternal life and joy in God’s presence. The passion of the cross anticipates the glory of the coming kingdom. We stand today as forgiven sinners because Jesus was willing to be lifted up to redeem us.
