THE UPWARD LOOK
Hebrews 12:2-Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I heard the story about a man in New York city who one day begin to look into the sky. After a few minutes, several men joined him in looking upward. As they continued to look up many more joined them. Finally after over a 100 people were standing in the street looking upward, one man punched the man and said, what are looking of for? Nobody knew!!!
There are many people today who are looking in all directions but the main direction. And that is in the direction of Jesus Christ. The first look a person must have of Jesus is that of Jesus on the cross dying for their sins.
John 12:32-And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
In this verse, Jesus is like a mighty magnet that draws men unto Himself. The Pharisees had recognized his drawing power for they said in John 12:39-The whole world is gone after Him.
The Greeks in this Chapter were drawn unto Him, for they said to Phillip in 12:21-Sirs, we would see Jesus.
I-LETS LOOK AT THE PERSON WHO DRAWS:
John 12:32a-And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. AND ACCORDING TO VERSE 30, THIS I IS JESUS.
A-HE IS THE CHRIST OF CREATION:
Col. 1:16-For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
When you and I use the word I over and over again, it is a sign of pride. But when Jesus uses it, it denotes authority, domination. WE ARE THE LITTLE I, HE IS THE BIG I.
On Christmas Day 1968, the three astronauts of Apollo 8 circled the dark side of the moon and headed for home. Suddenly, over the horizon of the moon rose the blue and white Earth garlanded by the glistening light of the sun against the black void of space. Those sophisticated men, trained in science and technology, did not utter Einstein’s name. They did not even go to the poets, the lyricists, or the dramatists. Only one thing could capture the awe-inspiring thrill of this magnificent observation. Billions heard the voice from outer space as the astronaut read it: "In the beginning God"--the only concept worthy enough to describe that unspeakable awe, unutterable in any other way. "In the beginning God created"
Note-God does not make clones; each person is different, a tribute to God’s creativity.
So the one doing the drawing is not a mere man, but the almighty God of the universe. That is amazing to me.
B-HE IS THE CHRIST OF CRUCIFIXION:
John 12:33-This he said, signifying what death he should die.
We don’t "lift up" Jesus with our praises in the sense He means here. He was lifted up on the cross, and we proclaim that fact to the world. We lift Jesus up by preaching Christ
The story of Marie Antoinette of France. Before she was put in prison to be executed by the guillotine the next day, her hair was black as a raven, and her eyes sky blue, but the next day as they led her away, her hair was white and her skin wrinkled overnight. Why? The fear of the suffering she would face. ALSO JESUS SUFFERED BEFORE THE CROSS IN THE GARDEN AND ON THE CROSS.
A minister, going through a mental institution, was stopped by a woman, who asked: "Mr. Minister, what work of man will there be in Heaven?" "None, my dear lady," he said, thinking to answer as quickly as possible and get away. "Oh, yes, there will! Can’t you tell me?" "No, I cannot; but will you tell me?" said the minister. "Oh, sir," she replied, "it will be the prints of the nails of the hands and feet of the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the only work of man that there will be in Heaven."
II-LETS LOOK AT THE POWER WITH WHICH HE DRAWS:
John 12:32b-And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
He draws through His sinless life, His divine love, His flawless teaching and His perfect sacrifice. But who does He uses?
A-HE USES THE SPIRIT TO DRAW PEOPLE:
John 16:8-And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
He will convict:-Men cannot come to an understanding of sin, righteousness and judgment apart from the Holy Spirit.
A man went to his doctor to find out why he had been having such severe headaches. The doctor ran some tests and after a few hours called the man into his office. "I have terrible news," he told the patient. "Your condition is terminal." "Oh, no!? the man cried. "How long do I have?" "Ten " began the doctor. "Ten what?" the patient interrupted. "Days? Months? Years?" "Nine," continued the doctor, "eight, seven, six "
The countdown has began for those not yet saved. Every time they are drawn by the Spirit and refused to come to Jesus, they have lessen their opportunity.
B-HE USES THE SCRIPTURES TO DRAW PEOPLE:
The scripture says in John, (search the Scriptures for therein find eternal life)
I think about the Mother who send her boy a Bible who was in jail in New Orleans. He begin reading in the afternoon after receiving it. It was at midnight, when he got to Acts 16 and Silas and Paul in Jail. When he read about the jailer getting saved, he got convicted of his own sins and asked Jesus to save him. He then began to shout and holler. The jailer said shut up, let every one sleep. But the man said, I can‘t help but shouting I found the Lord and forgiveness of sin. And the rest of the story is that the jailed got saved too.
C-HE USES THE THE SAINTS TO DRAW PEOPLE
Mark 16:15-And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
I remember preaching a revival in LaGrange, Georgia back in the 80’s. At the time of the revival there was a fishing tournament going on. It was open to anyone and if you caught the special tagged fish you got a prize.
Well in the verse I just read, Jesus has called you and I who are saved to be fishers of men. Wherein we won’t get any money, we will get a reward one day. Daniel said they will shine as stars.
There was man back in the medieval days who lived atop a 60 foot tower for 37 years. He wanted to be separated from the World. Well Jesus didn’t intent for us do such a thing but be like Him, who a friend of sinners.
But don’t forget while being a witness for Jesus, we must be a vessel of honor, one who is clean before the Lord.
J. Wilbur Chapman once said, "My life is governed by this rule: Anything that dims my vision of Christ or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life or makes Christian work difficult is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it."
III-LETS LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HE DRAWS:
John 12:32c-And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Not all will be saved but those who allow Him to draw them and put their faith in Him and repent of their sins will be saved.
A-HE DRAWS PEOPLE OF ALL RACES:
God is not the respecter of persons, He wants and desires that all people be saved to His glory.
At the height of a political corruption trial, the prosecuting attorney attacked a witness. "Isn’t it true," he bellowed, "that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?" The witness stared out the window as though he hadn’t hear the question. "Isn’t it true that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?" the lawyer repeated. The witness still did not respond. Finally, the judge leaned over and said, "Sir, please answer the question." "Oh," the startled witness said, "I thought he was talking to you."
THIS SCRIPUTRES IS SPEAKING NOT TO JUST ONE BUT TO ALL
B-HE DRAWS PEOPLE OF ALL RANKS
THE RICH, THE POOR, THE LEARNED, THE UNLEARNED
Some folks think they are good really good people. Let’s suppose that a person only sins 3 times a day. A sin in the morning, a sin during the day and a sin at night. Sounds like a pretty good person! Let’s think for a moment. If that person is saved at 10 years old and dies at 80 years old that person will commit 76,650 sins in their lifetime! Imagine nearly 80,000 sins and this is from the life of a "good person." The truth is that all have sinned (more than we would really like to know) and all need Jesus.
The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise.
A young rich woman lived under very discordant conditions at home. She was dissatisfied, and her discontent was manifest in her face, her manner, and the tone of her voice. Trifles irritated her; and, had it been possible, she would gladly have traveled to the end of the earth to get away from her disagreeable environment.
Some time after, a friend met her and saw in her smiling face that a change had taken place. "How are things at home?" he inquired. "Just the same," was the reply, "but I am different."
IV-LETS LOOK AT THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH HE DRAWS:
John 12:32d-And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
A-HE DRAWS PEOPLE UNTO HIMSELF FOR SAVLATION:
John 3:16-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The world says get all the gesto you can out of life. Jesus says to give your life to him and let him make something wonder- ful out of your life.
A man, with whom the Lord had been dealing, was working on the road. It was lunch time and the man sat under a great rock, by the roadside, eating his lunch. While sitting there a strange thing took place. A pigeon lighted upon his shoulder and then flew away some yards and lit in the road. Soon it came and repeated this strange action. The third time the man arose and went out where the pigeon was, to see if he could discover anything. The pigeon flew away and he never saw it again. But while he was examining the place in the road where the pigeon had been, he heard a terrible crash. He looked back and the great rock had fallen just where he had been sitting. Had he remained he would have been crushed to death. The man wept and said, "My Lord, if God is that anxious to save me I had better surrender to Him." And he did. God is doing His best to keep us out of hell.
B-HE DRAWS PEOPLE UNTO HIMSELF FOR SERVICE
John 12:26-If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
God is at work in our world! We can and will be involved with what he is doing. Remember our verse: 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.
The woman chuckled as she told me about the time she woke her husband to tell him she was in labor and needed to go to the hospital. He jumped out of bed, dropped to his knees, and said, "Honey, let’s pray." She told him that it was not the time to kneel and pray. It was time to get dressed and head for the hospital. It was time for action! There’s a proper time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1), including a time to pray and a time to act. When we see someone who lacks food and clothes, it’s right to provide what they need (James 2:15-16). Sometimes we need to trust God and take immediate action.
The operative question for us is this: What am I now doing that is in concert with my Lord and Savior? We are Saved to serve! Too many Christians Sit Soak and Sour!
My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:26
When we serve the Lord with gladness with passion with enthusiasm we will be honored by God! There is no earthly honor that can compete with that! Would you like to be honored by God? You can it’s a choice. When we present him our lives, our talents for his use, when we say take my life lead me Lord, he will.
CONCLUSION:
If you reject His drawing this morning and never come to Him in salvation, then one day out in the future, He will draw you not to salvation but to Judgment and then it will be too late to anything about it.
Many years ago a man conned his way into the orchestra of the emperor of China although he could not play a note. Whenever the group practiced or performed, he would hold his flute against his lips, pretending to play but not making a sound. He received a modest salary an enjoyed a comfortable living. Then one day the emperor requested a solo from each musician. The flutist got nervous. There wasn’t enough time to learn the instrument. He pretended to be sick, but the royal physician wasn’t fooled. On the day of his solo performance, the impostor took poison and killed himself. The explanation of his suicide led to a phrase that found its way into the English language: “He refused to face the music.” (Just Like Jesus; Max Lucado)
But there will come a day when you must face the music, one day you will be separated from everything. On that day you will stand alone before God and give an account for your life, your decisions, and whether you believed in Jesus or not.
Jesus was opposed. Jesus was persecuted. People made fun of Him. And yet He stayed the course. He ran the race. He paid the price.
