We hear some famous words of Jesus today: When He is lifted up, He will draw all people to Himself. He is, of course, talking about the cross. When Jesus dies upon the cross, He is dying for all. But there is more to this as well. When we lift Him with our words, our actions, and who we are, when we lift up the name of Jesus, He will draw all people to Himself. That’s our job, to lift up Jesus, to point to Jesus. When we do that, He will save. He will restore. He will give life. When we lift up Jesus, He draws all to Himself!

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It’s great to be with you today as we continue our journey through the Gospel of John. I realized yesterday that I skipped a section in our Rooted study, and it’s funny because I’ve been preparing a sermon on this very text for Sunday. My mind blended the readings for the sermon and Rooted together. So, while I have a sermon ready, I accidentally overlooked John 12:27-36 here.

The irony here is striking. In Roman times, the cross symbolized death and intimidation. But for us today, it represents peace and redemption. Jesus, lifted up on the cross, draws all people to Himself. It was through this ultimate sacrifice that He began to reconcile the world to God.

First, Jesus’ literal lifting up on the cross draws all people to Him, offering salvation to everyone. Second, we as believers are called to “lift up” Jesus in our daily lives. When we glorify Him through our words and actions, others are drawn to His light. In a world where people are often cynical about religion, Jesus Himself continues to captivate hearts. Even though the church may lose favor, people still admire the teachings and life of Jesus.

So, how do we do this? We lift Him up by living lives that reflect His love and truth—whether through our actions, conversations, or social media presence. When Jesus is lifted up, He promises to draw all people to Himself.

We live in a world full of distractions and idols, but only one thing truly matters: Jesus. Our role as Christians is to lift Him up in everything we do. This is your challenge—your homework for today: How will you lift up the name of Jesus? In your work, play, and all aspects of your life, how will you reflect His light?

Remember, as we lift Him up, He draws people to Himself. Let’s be intentional in pointing others to Jesus today. Lift high the cross and witness the impact He can make.

Thank you for joining me today. Tomorrow, we’ll pick back up at verse 44 of chapter 12. Have a great day!