From: May 22, 2025
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32 ESV).
These words of Jesus come after a striking moment in John’s Gospel. Some Greeks had come to the feast and expressed a desire to see Jesus. Rather than responding directly to their request, Jesus declared that the hour had come for Him to be glorified. His statement about being “lifted up” points to His crucifixion. Through the cross, Jesus would draw all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—to Himself. The Greeks’ request signaled that His mission was reaching its climax. The time had come for the door of salvation to be opened to the world. Jesus would not be seen truly through a casual encounter, but through the fullness of His glory displayed in His death and resurrection.
We often long for our family, friends, and neighbors to see Jesus and know Him. Like Philip and Andrew, we may feel unsure how to bring others to Him. But Jesus reminds us that when He is lifted up, He will do the drawing. This encourages us not to rely on persuasive arguments or perfect presentations. Instead, we are called to lift Jesus up in our words, our worship, and our witness. We lift Jesus up when we live in a way that points to His sacrificial love. We lift Him up when we speak boldly of what He has done on the cross. We lift Him up when we keep the gospel central in our homes, churches, and conversations. Our role is not to draw people to ourselves, but to lift Jesus high and trust Him to draw people to Himself. As we do, we become part of the answer to the Greeks’ desire, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You that through the cross, Jesus draws all people to Himself. Thank You for opening the way of salvation to the whole world. Help us to faithfully lift up Jesus in our lives. Let His sacrificial love shape the way we speak, serve, and share with others. Give us boldness to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, and give us hearts that trust in Your power to draw people to Him. Use us, Lord, to make Jesus known. In His name we pray, amen.
From: May 22, 2024
‘Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” (John 12:20-21 ESV).
Certain Greeks came to Jerusalem during the feast and they asked to see Jesus. No mention of whether they received an audience with Jesus is given, but one thing is sure. Jesus would invite not only those Greeks, but people from every nation, tongue, and tribe to Himself by removing the wall of separation between them and the Father.
Jesus had already cleansed the Court of the Gentiles on Monday of that week. And on Friday, He would give His life in payment for humanity’s sins, opening up a new and living way to all who seek Him.
Now everyone, whether Jew or Greek, can boldly approach the throne of God in the Name of Jesus. Jesus paid the price, so that the way is open to all those who “wish to see” Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we wish to see Jesus. You have revealed Him to us through Your Word and through Your Spirit. Yet we long for the Day of His appearing when we will see Him with our own eyes. Until then, strengthen us to live by faith in Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 22, 2023
‘The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”’ (John 12:34 NLT).
Those who called out to Jesus from the crowd were correct to assume that “Son of Man” was in fact a Messianic title. Certainly, it was the title of the exalted figure that appeared before the throne of God in the prophet Daniel’s vision in Daniel 7. So serious students of Scripture would recognize it. However, when Jesus spoke of the looming death of the Son of Man, the crowd questioned His use of the title. Was Jesus using “Son of Man” in some other context? Who is this Son of Man that he would be lifted up to die?
The crowd did well to recognize the Son of Man title as Messianic, but they overlooked the Scriptures that pointed to the Anointed One’s suffering. There are two threads of Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament. One prophetic thread portrays Him as the Righteous King who sits on David’s throne forever, while the other thread describes Him as a Suffering Servant who is a “man of sorrows,” and “wounded for our transgressions” (Isa. 53:3-5). The crowd recognized the first, but not the second. And the second actually had to precede the first. Yet, the Suffering Servant they rejected will indeed come again as the Righteous King they anticipated. Their partial knowledge led them to a total error.
Who is this Son of Man? He is Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man. He is the fulfillment of every Messianic Scripture written. He is both Suffering Servant and Eternal King.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that the Son of Man was revealed to us. For we have believed in Christ Jesus and been adopted into Your family by His blood. Strengthen us with your wisdom that we might understand Your Scriptures and proclaim the light of their truth to a dark world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 22, 2022
WHOSE PRAISE DO YOU SEEK?
Many people, including the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem believed in Jesus, but they would not speak of it publicly for fear of censure by the Pharisees. It wasn’t popular to confess Jesus among the upper classes. Such faith was for the common folk.
Although fear of rejection may have been a motive for keeping quiet concerning their faith, it was actually the “love of human praise” that sealed their lips. They loved the approval of man, more than the approval of God.
Whose approval do you seek? Whose praise do you love? There is coming a day that those who have been ashamed of Jesus before men, will find that Christ is ashamed of them before His Father (Luke 9:26).
PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess that we have often sought human praise over Yours. We don’t want to be people-pleasers, but those who seek Your pleasure and approval. Forgive us and fill us with holy boldness to declare the name and message of Jesus to everyone. In His name we pray, amen.
From: May 22, 2016
Many leaders in Jerusalem believed in Jesus, but would not speak of it publicly for fear of censure by the Pharisees. It wasn’t popular to confess Jesus among the upper classes. Such faith was for the little people. Although fear of rejection may have been their motive for keeping quiet concerning their faith, it was actually “love of glory” that sealed their lips. They loved the approval of man, more than the approval of God. Whose approval do you seek? Whose glory do you love?
From: May 22, 2015
Certain Greeks came to Jerusalem during the feast and they asked to see Jesus. No mention of whether they received an audience with Jesus is given, but one thing is sure. Jesus would invite not only those Greeks, but people from every nation and tribe to Himself by removing the wall of separation between them and the Father. He had already cleansed the Court of the Gentiles on Monday of that week. By Friday, He gave His life in payment for humanity’s sins, removing both the wall of separation and rent the veil of the law. Now everyone, whether Jew or Greek, can boldly approach the throne of God in the Name of Jesus. Jesus paid the price, so that those who “wished to see” Him, could.