And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” -John 12:32
What does it mean that when Christ is lifted up on the cross that he will draw all people to himself? What is so attractive about the cross that I should be drawn to it?
The cross is the place:
- Of redemption
- Of the greatest unconditional love ever manifested
- Of holiness and righteousness meeting compassion
- Of justice meeting mercy
- Where Jesus proclaimed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
- Where I find Christ’s righteousness that I can take on as my own.
If this is the place that I find all of these things, why would I not want to hang out there? It makes me thing of the hymn, Beneath the Cross of Jesus:
1. Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.
2. Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears
Two wonders I confess:
The wonders of redeeming love
And my unworthiness.
3. I take, O cross, thy shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of his face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross.