Jesus declares His soon coming crucifixion, “And I, if I am LIFTED UP (lifted up on the cross) from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die. The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that THE CHRIST REMAINS FOREVER; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’?” (John 12:32-34)
They were referring to Daniels prophecy, “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. HIS DOMINION IS AN EVERLASTING DOMINION, WHICH SHALL NOT PASS AWAY, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14) That is why the Jews turned away from Christ when He came to earth and His ministry was ended with horrible beatings and then the crucifixion. THEY KNEW AND STILL TODAY, KNOW that when the true Mesiah comes, HE WILL RULE FOREVER. They were BLINDED TO ISAIAH’S PROPHECY, “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD BEEN REVEALED? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. HE IS DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and WE DID NOT ESTEEM HIM. Surely, He has borne our GRIEFS And carried our SORROWS; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But HE WAS WOUNDED for our transgressions, HE WAS BRUISED for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And BY HIS STRIPES we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:1-5) And “The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They PIERCED MY HANDS AND MY FEET; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. THEY DIVIDE MY GARMENTS AMONG THEM, And for My clothing they CAST LOTS.” (Psalms 22:16-18) “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they DIVIDED HIS GARMENTS AND CAST LOTS.” (Luke 23:34)
“His body shall not remain overnight on the tree…for He who is hanged is ACCURSED OF GOD.” (Deuteronomy 21:23) Paul teaches us, “Christ has redeemed us from THE CURSE OF THE LAW, having become A CURSE FOR US (for it is written, “cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) (Galatians 3:13) One more about His bones, “He guards all His bones; Not one of them IS BROKEN.” (Psalms 34:20) The typical death on the cross occurs after they break the knees of the victim, because they must push themselves up to take a breath. “But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they DID NOT BREAK HIS LEGS.” (John 19:33)
JESUS HAD TO SHED HIS BLOOD AND DIE FOR US TO TAKE OUR SIN NATURE AWAY SO WE COULD BE SAVED…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham