John 8:28. “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”
LIFTED UP: the curse of the cross. There! On that tree! He is hanging! Despised and rejected of men! In His own body He is bearing - What should have been laid upon them. The words of men were self-centered - Trying to justify all they had done. When the Light of the world finally entered - They tried to put out the Light of the Son.
Through His years here the Light was bright - It exposed the darkness of sin. There was no avoiding the light of life - God had come to earth to dwell among men. There never was a doubt of His righteousness - Blessing to man came directly from Him. The brightness of His perfect holiness - Showed men where they had to begin.
There had to be a willingness to stop - And acknowledged that they were wrong. They must face the fact that they were not- Able to meet God on their own. All men need this Mediator between God and sinful men. There is no one else but Him-
Who is able that great gulf to span?
In jealousy and anger men acted - And nailed the Lord on the tree. Holy God and the Savior contracted - That He would bear the guilt belonging to me. Lifted up on that cross He bore - The curse imposed by the law. God, in righteousness, doesn't demand more - For Christ in His perfection, actually fulfilled them all.
Because of that uplifted Person - The curse of the law is passed. Now there is complete justification - Men can approach to God at last. Faith in the Savior provides - A redemption that is full and complete. In peace now believers can abide - For every claim against them, He met.
“Father in heaven, and God of all grace: in this reading from Thee today, I am again made conscious of the fullness of the work Christ accomplished, when He died on the cross. I know He fully satisfied Thy righteous claims. I know that He was sent by Thee to do this. I know there was never a question as to whether He would do this. I am forever blessed because of this sacrifice He made – and I thank Thee this Lord's day morning, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”