The Drawing Power of Christ

JOHN 12:12-16, 20-32

GOLDEN TEXT: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.”—John 12:32

JESUS’ presentation of himself as King to the people of Israel had been foretold by the prophet. (Zech. 9:9) In the same prophecy is forecast the rejection of Israel as God’s royal nation, and the beginning of her “double” period of punishment. It was Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Messiah and King whom Jehovah had sent, and their crucifixion of him, that marked the turning point of the “double.” There national favor for the natural seed of Abraham virtually ended. There was a declining period of three and one-half years after that, as shown by Daniel’s prophecy of the seventieth week, but the double of disfavor began to count then.—Dan. 9:27

It was therefore a very crucial period in Jesus’ ministry. John explains that his disciples did not at the time understand the significance of the events which were occurring, but that later they did, when enlightened by the Holy Spirit which came upon them at Pentecost. Jesus’ friends and many of those who had been directly or indirectly benefited by his miracles—the common people who heard him gladly—were glad to cry, “Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord,” but the higher-ups rejected him, and plotted to kill the prince of life.

Many incidents were crowded into the last few days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. One was the coming of “certain Greeks” to Philip, saying to him, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” These Greeks had come to Jerusalem to attend the feast of unleavened bread, which indicates that they had some confidence in Israel’s God, and also in the prophets. There may be no connection between their asking to see the Master just at this time and the prophecy pertaining to the casting off of Israel, but the prophecy does mention Greece as being used of the Lord in some way. If the Greeks who sought Jesus had read this prophecy and were wondering about it, they received no information from Jesus concerning it, for the record indicates that he paid little attention to their request for an interview.

We have in this an example of how definitely the Master followed the line of the divine plan in conducting his ministry. He loved the Greeks and knew that his Father loved them. He knew, moreover, that the divine plan called for the blessing of all nations—that he was to draw all men unto himself, and bless them. But Jesus also knew that his own ministry at the time was to be confined to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt. 10:6; 15:24) True, the time had come to say to this favored people, “Your house is left unto desolate,” but there was to be another three and one-half years of extended favor before the Gospel would go to the Gentiles, so the Greeks had to wait.—Matt. 23:38

When Philip and Andrew reported to Jesus that certain Greeks were asking for an interview, instead of granting it, Jesus gave a discourse in which he expounded that great fundamental of the Gospel that “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” Thus Jesus indicated that he expected to die, and that through his death “much fruit” would result.

Just at this juncture in Jesus’ ministry, the Pharisees said among themselves, “Behold, the world is gone after him.” Perhaps they had noticed that the Greeks as well as the Jews were showing interest. It was a time of momentary popularity for the Master. Those with less vision of the divine plan, and less able to resist popularity, would have faltered at this point. But not Jesus. “He that loveth his life shall lose it,” declared the Master. Regardless of the crowds which were flocking to him at the moment, Jesus knew that the Father’s will for him was to die as the Redeemer of the world.

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me,” said the Master. What an appropriate declaration under the circumstances! The Pharisees had noted that the world was going after Jesus. Perhaps the disciples thought the hour of his great triumph had come; but Jesus knew better. First he must suffer and die. First he must be “lifted up” on the cross to give his life for Israel and for the world. As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, and those who looked upon it were healed, so Jesus was to be lifted up as the great sin-bearer for all mankind.

Then, after the “corn of wheat” had died; after he had been “lifted up,” would come the fruitage, the gathering of all men. This gathering of “all men” is still future, for the reason that The Christ which was to die is not “one member, but many.” (I Cor. 12:14) The work of sacrifice still goes on. All the body members of Christ participate in it. They suffer and die with him, that they might live and reign with him.

QUESTIONS:

What prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus rode into Jerusalem as King?

Why did not Jesus grant the inquiring Greeks an interview?

When will all men be drawn unto Jesus?

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