Day 5

Scripture to Read: John 12:31–33

Jesus wanted the people with Him to know what He was about to go through; so, we read in John 12:31–33, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” 33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. What Jesus communicated with the people was that Satan and death were going to be completely defeated by Him as He was going to take the judgment of the world on Himself on the cross and overcome it. God gives us a beautiful picture in Colossians 2:14–15 of what Christ did through the cross. We read in Colossians 2:14–15, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. When Jesus spoke those words in John 12:31–32, He wanted the people to know what He was about to do for them and the entire human race. Jesus spoke of being lifted up. The verb used for “lifted” means both an elevation (raised up on a cross) and exaltation (raised in honor). Jesus made sure the people knew that He would draw all people to Himself when He was “lifted” (elevated and exalted) on the cross.

Challenge & Application

• From what God taught you today, why did Christ need to be “lifted” up and crucified? • What did Jesus promise He would do if He were “lifted” up, and why is this so important to know?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

Jesus had been doing the ministry He was sent by the Father to do. For three years, He invested in His disciples, and many had come to know Him as their Messiah. The religious leaders wanted Him dead, but He had been able to steer clear of them for the time “because His hour had not yet come” (John 7:30, John 8:20). But we read today, in John...

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Day 2

Jesus knew His hour had come and He knew He came to die, not just for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles. According to Ephesians 2:17, And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near. As God led Paul to write to the Gentile believers in Ephesus, God used Paul to remind them that Jesus came for them “...

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Day 3

Jesus continued to share with Philip, Andrew, and the others who were present at the time. We read in John 12:27, “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.” The fact that Jesus expresses the trouble within His soul reminds us that He is fully human and f...

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Day 4

Jesus was totally transparent about what He was going through. What is beautiful about what God had John the Apostle record is what we read in John 12:28, “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” Jesus transitioned from sharing how troubled He was to immediately talki...

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Day 5

Jesus wanted the people with Him to know what He was about to go through; so, we read in John 12:31–33, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” 33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. What J...

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Day 6

After Jesus had spoken about His crucifixion, the people were somewhat confused, for we read in John 12:34, The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” Again, the people were too focused on an earthly Messiah,...

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Day 7

Jesus gives this reminder of why He came in John 12:44–48, And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears My sayings and d...

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