Looking Ahead!

Each time I read through the Gospel of John there are two themes which always grab my attention. One is the tracing of Jesus’ statements regarding His time having not yet come (i.e. John 2:4) to when it was the time for Jesus to submit to the cross. (i.e John 17:1) Beside each reference relating to this theme I have drawn a picture of a clock in my Bible. Another theme I have marked twelve times through this Gospel is Jesus’ focuses toward HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS. By each of these I have drawn a simple cross. Though Jesus tried to prepare His disciples for His coming DEATH ON THE CROSS, they had difficulty accepting and understanding that such could happen. As Jesus made references to HIS DEATH during times of public teaching the leaders and others also did not comprehend.

The first two references I have marked in the Gospel of John are statements by John the Baptist in referring to Jesus as “the Lamb of God.”
( John 1:29 & 36)

Jesus began His own pointing ahead when He said…
“DESTROY THIS TEMPLE AND IN THREE DAYS I WILL RAISE IT UP.” (John
2:19b)
The Jews on this occasion thought Jesus was referring to the literal temple in Jerusalem and they knew how long it had taken to build it. ( John 2:20) However, Jesus spoke of His body, a truth the disciples recalled later following HIS DEATH and resurrection. ( John 2:21-22)

Note these other brief references from John’s Gospel:
“…so must the SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP,” (3:14)
“For God so love the world, that HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON….” (3:16)
“…And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is MY FLESH.” (6:51)
“…When you have LIFTED UP THE SON OF MAN, then you will know that I am he….” (8:28)
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE for the sheep.” (10:11)
“…I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.” (10:15)
“…because I LAY DOWN MY LIFE THAT I MAY TAKE IT UP AGAIN.” (10:17)
“The hour has come …. IF IT DIES IT BEARS MUCH FRUIT.” (12:23-24)
“And I, when I AM LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH, will draw all people to myself.” (12:32)

And then it happened. Jesus was arrested in the garden, tried, and sentenced to death by crucifixion at the insistence of the mob. ( John 19:15) Though the Jewish leaders thought they were getting rid of a “trouble maker”, it was all according to the plan of God. It was not Jewish nor even Roman, but rather Divine authority that was involved. Jesus even said so to Pilate. ( John 19:11)

Jesus exercised His own authority by the GIVING OF HIS LIFE!
“(17) ‘For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. (18) No one takes it from me, but I LAY IT DOWN OF MY OWN ACCORD. I have AUTHORITY TO LAY IT DOWN, and I have AUTHORITY TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN. This charge I have received from my Father.’” ( John 10:17-18 ESV)

Though we are not to worship the cross, it’s significance is not to be underrated. Jesus’ DEATH ON THE CROSS was for the purpose of bringing about our salvation. It was His blood shed there that has the power to deal adequately with our sins. ( Hebrews 9:14 & 10:10-12) The cross was part of the plan and Jesus stuck to it. Thank God for the authority to make such a provision on our behalf and praise the Lord Jesus for His willingness to endure it all. May we help others come to know “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” ( John 1:29b)

Have a great day APPRECIATING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST!
Carl

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