LIFTING JESUS UP
Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross about two thousand years ago. He said, “when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself “ (John 12:32). And he tells those who believe in his sacrificial atonement on the cross for their sins to lift him up with the gospel of salvation, so others may be drawn to the Son of God and be saved by believing in him. (Mark 16:15-16; John 3:16).
THE BIBLE TELLS US HOW THE EARLY BELIEVERS LIFTED JESUS UP.
The early disciples of Jesus saw him being lifted up on the cross, resurrected from the dead, and ascending into heaven promising to come again. Jesus anointed them with the Holy Spirit and sent them to preach the gospel to others, who were not aware of his atoning sacrifice for their sins (Acts 1:8; Romans 10:14-18).
They began to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ on the Jewish holy day of Pentecost when they were filled with the power of the of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised. As they preached Jesus crucified and resurrected for the salvation of the world, thousands who heard their message were drawn to the Lord Jesus and were saved from their sins (Acts 2:41). Afterwards, the disciples preached the gospel of Jesus lifted up throughout much of the world, where many more people believed and were saved (Acts).
THE BIBLE TELLS BELIEVERS TODAY HOW TO LIFT JESUS UP:
PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL. Jesus said, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”Because you believe and are saved, you can tell others by lifting him up with the gospel. Jesus instructs believers: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). And in the process of lovingly proclaiming the gospel to the world, we should include people at home, on the job, at school and in our community so they may also be saved.
PRAY FOR ALL PEOPLE. “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:3-6)
DO GOOD TO OTHERS. The Bible says, “as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone” (Galatians 6:10)
LOVE ONE ANOTHER. “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35).
LIVE LIKE JESUS. “Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). Live holy like Christ by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, whom the Lord gave believers as their helper (John 14:15-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16).
By believers lifting Jesus up through proclaiming the gospel and demonstrating his love, people from all nations will be drawn to him as their Lord and Savior (Revelations 7:9).
