“‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die” (John 12:32-33).
In these hard times of fear and deprivation, of isolation and loneliness, God wants us to lift up our eyes to the cross of Christ. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15; Numbers 21:4-9). It’s at the cross where you’ll find God in this crisis. We’re suffering; on the cross Jesus suffered. We’re dying; on the cross Jesus died and was taken down, his lifeless body taken down limp to be buried. We pray for deliverance but Jesus wasn’t delivered. We might wonder if God is with us but Jesus knew that He was really abandoned. He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46: Psalm 22:1)
As Jesus thought about His coming death, He said, “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’” (which is what you and I are saying, understandably so). But Jesus said, “For this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name” (John 12:27-28). The glory of God is far different from earthly glory, far different from the power and prestige and glamour that fills our society, vanities that so many people covet. The glory of God is that He brings forgiveness to sinners and promises everlasting life to people scared by death. “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17).
“When I was sinking down / Beneath God’s righteous frown, / Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, / Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.” (Lutheran Service Book 543, 2)
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