JESUS – LIFTED UP ON THE CROSS

From The Heart

Publish date: 04/24/2011

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:14-15 NKJV

And the people spoke against God and against Moses, Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water, and we loathe this light (contemptible, unsubstantial) manna. 6 Then the Lord sent fiery (burning) serpents among the people; and they bit the people, and many Israelites died. 7 And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord, that He may take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.  9 And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze], he lived. Numbers 21:5-9 AMP

Jesus said that it was necessary for Him to be lifted up on the cross just as Moses lifted up the serpent on a pole in the wilderness. The serpent represented the very thing that was killing the people – the fiery serpents. When the people looked at it in repentance, believing and trusting in it to heal them and save them, they were healed and saved and they lived. Sin was the cause sof their distresses and the serpent on the pole was the antidote.

And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 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. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. John 12:23-33 KJV

Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes; and they will sentence Him to death 19 And deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and whipped and crucified, and He will be raised [to life] on the third day.  Matthew 20:18-19 AMP

You know that the Passover is in two days — and the Son of Man will be delivered up treacherously to be crucified.  Matthew 26:2 AMP

Jesus knew that He would die and even how He would die. It was God’s plan to lift Him up on the cross, like the serpent on the pole, so that all men – bound by sin and suffering sickness, disease and death, and who looked at Him – would be saved and healed and delivered and receive eternal life.

This Jesus, when delivered up according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men.  Acts 2:23 AMP

Jesus was publicly lifted up and crucified by the very ones for whom He died and who needed Him the most. He died to save ALL mankind – to save them from death, sin, sickness and disease.

Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.  
1 Peter 2:24-25 NKJV

It was not a lamb lifted up on the pole, but it was a serpent, representing evil. All the things that represent the work of evil in the world and that sinful man experiences – the sins, sickness, pain and death that man cannot escape alone – were placed onto Jesus on that cross. It was crucified with Him and it died with Him. When He rose from the dead He left it all in the grave. Jesus did not only die to save us from sin, but also to heal us. All who look to Jesus for their salvation identify with His death and His resurrection. They are saved, healed, delivered and blessed with life – eternal life. He becomes both their Savior and their Lord.

Therefore let the whole house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt and acknowledge assuredly that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (the Messiah) — this Jesus Whom you crucified.
  Acts 2:36 AMP

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