If I Am Lifted Up

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself. (John 12:32)

When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me. (GNB)

Even so, provided that I be elevated, exalted abundantly above this earth, that will thoroughly draw everyone in my direction. (Transliteration from Strong's)

I have a number of questions that come to mind when I read this.

This verse starts out with a condition – if or when this event occurs, then... It reminds me of computer programming and what is called an if/then statement: If a condition is met then the result will happen.

So in that context, what is the condition that will trigger the resultant drawing? Jesus says that it has something to do with Him being lifted up. Of course everyone generally associates this primarily with His upcoming execution on the cross and I agree. But looking at the original language it appears to me that it also allows for even more than simply that, or at least a broader application than simply a one-time occurrence. Not that Jesus would be crucified more than once, but being lifted up could certainly occur more than once particularly if the exalting part of the definition is taken into account.

This lifting up or exalting is stated to be relative to something else; it is a relative term linked in the original word to literally the soil or more broadly the earth, the world. But it also includes all the inhabitants of the world as well. Thus it may be seen that Jesus may not have only been referring here to the literal lifting up of His body above the ground on the cross but beyond that the elevating of what He had come to represent and reveal about the nature of His Father and how God actually views us. Jesus is saying here that until we view Him above everything at our ground level and all the ideas and opinions and feelings of men on this earth to see Him as above all of this, we will not experience the drawing power inherent in His revelation of the real truth about God's love for us.

The original word for being lifted up also includes the notion of heaven as well as being above our landscape. It is only from the perspective of heaven that truth and reality can be discerned. From where we live and think and perceive it is impossible to feel drawn toward God or Jesus effectively. Only by Jesus coming to this earth from heaven to reveal to us heaven's perspective and attitudes towards us can we begin to feel the true drawing power that holds all of the rest of the universe in perfect harmony with the love that is the governing influence holding all in unity and peace. From the perspective of this world, all we know is rebellion, disharmony, tension, violence and confusion. The only way we can gain a higher perspective and begin to experience a drawing power to rescue us from this miasma of selfishness and death is to catch a proper view of the real truth about God and how He feels towards us in the lifting up of His Son who came to show us that truth in person.

Another question that comes to mind here relates to this act of lifting up. Jesus does not spell out who is going to do the lifting up, but in the way this is worded it is evident He is not talking about doing it Himself. He is not going to be the one doing the lifting up but rather it will be done to Him. And even that is stated conditionally in this verse, leaving open the possibility that it might be possible that it would not happen. The condition at the beginning of this verse certainly leaves open the possibility of an alternative to Him being lifted up or exalted as well as this action necessarily happening to Him to be initiated by others and not Himself.

The two Greek words translated draw and all infer some interesting dynamics. Many Bible translators have assumed the all to mean only men or peoples. But it is clear from other passages both in the Old and New Testaments that God has a far greater purpose in mind for this drawing. We are a spectacle, a stage for the entire universe where this great drama has been unfolding far longer than this earth has even been in existence. The trial over God's character has been going on far longer than the drama between good and evil has been playing out on this earth; but God chose this planet to demonstrate what needed to be revealed about His own character and nature as the pivotal place from which to draw all intelligent beings into a deeper knowledge of His true nature of love. Thus the reason for this drawing power extends far beyond simply the humans who would be drawn toward God and His Son Jesus by this lifting up; the whole watching universe would become far more deeply attached in their loyalty to God themselves after witnessing what would take place on this earth through the revelation of the heart of God exposed in the death of Jesus on the cross.

At this point in the great controversy between Christ and Satan, the vast majority of those who have been most affected by His drawing power are clearly outside the realm of this planet. The watching universe appreciates far better than anyone here the distinct issues at stake in the accusations against God and in the actions and spirit that Jesus demonstrated. Under the greatest duress it was made plain that God was nothing like what Satan had accused Him of being. But this understanding is far less appreciated at this point in humans. We are the only ones left that still need to perceive in our minds what is really going on and who still need to grasp the spectacular truth about God's character that Jesus revealed at the cross. Because Satan moved so swiftly after that event to distort and subvert the true meaning of that display of love by introducing false religious interpretations of the cross, most people today see the cross in very different terms than how the rest of the universe views it. Men have been led largely to embrace lies of Satan about God in the way religion has typically presented the message of the death of Jesus.

Because of this tragic distortion of the truth intended to be revealed at the cross, God is assembling a group of people in these last days of this earth's history to once again reveal in their lives the truth about God's character that will be unmistakable and will once again unmask the drawing power of God's love in its purity. In essence, God will again be manifested in the flesh as Jesus richly dwells within the lives and hearts of true believers who finally grasp the truth about God's perfect and unconditional love and forgiveness and who will allow Him to live through them these principles under the most severe persecution and wickedness that will pressure them just like what happened to Jesus. One last time the universe and the world will witness humans who act like God under the worst of circumstances, people who will cling to the principles of God's character and are filled with the same trusting spirit in the heart of God that kept Jesus faithful and forgiving all the way to the point of death.

Revelation describes these people in the end of time as ones who live in the love of God so thoroughly that they prefer Him to their natural love for staying alive; people who are not contaminated by false beliefs about Him represented in the Bible as adultery with women.

But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death. (Revelation 12:11 NRSV)

These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. (Revelation 14:4-5 NIV)

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12 NRSV)