The Uplifted Saviour
John 12:31-33
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.…


Nothing is more wonderful about Christ than His unfaltering confidence in the boundlessness and perpetuity of His power, especially when we consider the circumstances in which it was expressed and the grounds on which it was based. The assertion before us is that of a fanatic or of a God.

I. THE EXTENT OF THE SAVIOUR'S DRAWING. "All men."

1. The meaning of universal terms in Scripture must be determined —

(1) By its great acknowledged principles. One of these is the freedom of the will. So the text signifies merely that there is sufficient power in Christ to draw all men; but the melancholy fact is that many "will not come unto Him that they may have life."(2) By the context. Spoken as it was in connection with the visit of the Greeks, the text means that the benefits of Christ's redemption were not restricted to the Jews, but were thrown open to the world.

2. While, however, some shall reach destruction because they will choose the broad way, there is a vastly preponderating aggregate who shall he brought to Christ. The drawing commenced with the dying thief. Seven weeks afterwards three thousand were drawn. Then the whole of the Acts furnishes illustrations. Then eighteen centuries of Church history, particularly great movements like Methodism and missions. Finally, the Apocalyptic visions shall be realized.

II. WHAT IS THERE IN THE UPLIFTED SAVIOUR SO CALCULATED TO ATTRACT. In Him is disclosed —

1. The ground of full and free pardon for the very chief of sinners. This gives hope to the most despairing, who can get rest nowhere else.

2. Ample provision for the purification of sinful hearts.

3. All those qualities calculated to draw the sympathies and aspirations of the renewed heart.

(1)  The love of truth is satisfied in Him, who is the Truth.

(2)  The yearning for fellowship is satisfied in His Brotherhood.

(3)  The sense of right binds us to Him as our Redeemer Sovereign.

(4)  The desire for spiritual beauty is gratified in Him, who is the altogether lovely.

(5)  Impulses to serve our brethren are sanctified and empowered by the constraint of His self-sacrificing love.

III. THE AGENCY EMPLOYED.

1. The power of Providence or government of the world is committed to the Redeemer for the ingathering and completion of the Church.

2. The Holy Spirit draws hearts to the Saviour. He is Christ's Witness and Glorifier. "No man can say that Jesus is the Christ but by the Holy Ghost." For this purpose He abides with the Church forever. Hence —

3. The Church is Christ's visible agency for this great work, which is discharged —

(1)  By private testimony.

(2)  Public proclamation.

(J. Graham.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

WEB: Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.




The Universality of Christ
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