I, If I Be Lifted Up, Will Draw All Men…

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The cross lay before Him. Humiliation, rejection, abuse and betrayal. In agony of spirit Christ poured out His soul to His Father to let this bitter cup pass, but He knew that for the salvation of mankind He must fulfill His destiny, the purpose for which He came into this world....The Cross!

As we approach the most significant holiday of the Christian world, how do we survey the cross. What impact has it made upon our heart, and how does our life reflect its meaning? Do we truly understand what Christ endured to bring us hope, victory over sin and the promise of eternal life? He made himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found as a man, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7,8). For us He came, for us He died, and for us He rose again that we through Him could be reunited to the Father.

Though most of Christendom places its focus on Christ’s resurrection, changing times and laws to honor it, the true spirit and essence of this event is His sacrifice, His death on Calvary to make atonement for the sins of all mankind. He is the true Lamb of God, the fulfillment of all types and shadows that pointed forward to this great moment in time. The price of sin now forever paid, man can conquer sin and death as he looks to looks to the cross and finds redemption. Until man in his weak and wretched state can survey the cross and see the only hope of salvation, Christianity has lost its link with divinity. Can we deny such love, such sacrifice?

Of all the chapter in scripture, Isaiah 53 most vividly portrays the Savior in His affliction. As we read through this chapter, we certainly cannot fail to envision Jesus Christ as our redeemer. We will never see Christ as our King if we cannot see Him as the Lamb. His sacrifice was the greatest event in history, fulfilling God’s promise to Adam in Genesis 3:15 of the coming Redeemer.

As we in humility and gratitude approach this solemn event, can we hear the voice of God speaking softly to our heart "I have loved you with a love beyond measure. I have sacrificed my life to give you life. I call, I plead, I long for you to come home, but you will not. You love this world more than the world that I prepare for you. Why do you deny me?"