Does that mean what I think it means?

Written by Tim MacGowan

I became a Christian as a teenager in 1975.  At that time, our worship songs were often short choruses of Scripture.  One popular song was called “Lift Jesus Higher” and was taken from John 12:32. 

“Lift Jesus higher, lift Jesus higher

Lift him up for the world to see.

He said, ‘If I be lifted up from the earth,

I will draw all men unto me.’”

I visualized Jesus being exalted on a throne by his people.  As a resultof our benevolent actions and deeds done in His name, others would come to know and accept Jesus as savior. 

It wasn’t until many years later that I really focused on the meaning of this passage.  Reading it again in my devotions this week, I was reminded of the context given in verse 33, “He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”  While it is a good thing to honor Jesus in our words and by our deeds, it is his death and subsequent resurrection that draws people to him.  In verse 36 Jesus concludes this section by saying, “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”