He Was Lifted Up for You

The Reach of the Savior

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Endured The Cross…

In John 12:32, Jesus speaks these profound words just days before His crucifixion, standing in the shadow of the cross. By using the phrase "lifted up from the earth," He is explicitly prophesying the manner of His death—referencing being raised up on a wooden cross.

In the immediate context, Jesus has just declared that the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Like a kernel of wheat that must fall into the ground and die to produce a harvest, He must suffer, bleed, and die to accomplish redemption for you. In this passage, Jesus speaks of a paradoxical glory where his ultimate humiliation becomes his greatest victory. The phrase "lifted up from the earth" refers primarily to the crucifixion, the physical act of being raised upon the cross, but it also points toward his subsequent ascension and exaltation. The power of this moment lies in the promise that this act of sacrifice would "draw all men" to him.

Draw All Men Unto Me

• The Universal Scope: The word "all" here dismantles ethnic, national, and social boundaries. Under the Old Covenant, the focal point of God's redemptive work was largely centered on Israel. Through the cross; however, Christ's gravitational pull extends across the entire globe, reaching every tribe, tongue, nation, and sinner, regardless of their past.
• Love, Not Coercion: Christ does not draw humanity through mechanical force, political dominance, or tyrannical fear. Instead, He draws us through the supreme, self-sacrificial display of sacrificial love. The cross reveals the full depth of God's hatred for sin and His profound, unyielding affection for humanity. When people truly perceive the crucified Savior, bleeding, suffering, and interceding for His executioners, something deep within the human conscience is melted and magnetically drawn toward Him.
• The Reconciliation: To be drawn to Christ is to be pulled out of the dark currents of rebellion, despair, and spiritual death, and anchored safely into the heart of God. It is the ultimate bridge built between a Holy Creator and a fallen creation.

The Eternal Invitation

Look at the cross. Look at the arms stretched wide, pinned to splintered wood not merely by iron nails, but by an unshakeable, relentless love for your soul. He was lifted up so that no matter how deep the pit, how heavy your shame, or how far you have wandered, there is a Savior with His arms open wide, calling you.

And the question is no longer whether His invitation is open to you. It is.

The question is whether you will come.

You are free to come to Christ now. You do not need to wait until you are better, stronger, cleaner, or more deserving. You need only turn toward Him in faith and receive the mercy He offers.

The Savior is lifted up before you, His hands are extended, His grace is offered, and the way to salvation is open. Come to Him today.

A Sinner's Reflection

Pride Vs. Humility

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner

Two Men Go To Pray

Jesus paints a sharp, unforgettable contrast between two men who go up to the temple to pray: a respected, highly religious man, pious, zealous, legalistic and he is present with a despised, outcast, dishonest, Roman collaborator. By "standing afar off" and refusing to "lift up his eyes," he acknowledges a spiritual truth: in the presence of a holy God, the sinner is acutely aware of their own inadequacy. He does not attempt to bridge the gap with excuses or a list of good deeds. Instead, his act of "smiting his breast" is a manifestation of contrition; a heart broken by the weight of its own failings. He recognizes that there is no leverage he can use to negotiate with the God the Father.

The Plea for Mercy

The core of the passage lies in the phrase, "God be merciful to me a sinner." This is not a request for justice, for justice would result in condemnation. It is a plea for mercy; the decision to withhold a deserved punishment and instead provide an undeserved blessing.

The publican understands that God’s mercy is not a reward for the righteous, but a rescue for the ruined. While the Pharisee in the preceding verses praised himself for his adherence to the law, the publican offers nothing but his need. In doing so, he creates the only space in which mercy can operate. God’s mercy is most powerfully activated not when we present our achievements, but when we present our emptiness.

Unlike the Pharisee, who presents a ledger of his own achievements, the publican brings absolutely nothing to the table except his desperate need. He does not point to any good works, family lineage, or religious rituals. He strips away all pretense and appeals strictly to the character of God. In doing so, he reveals the beautiful truth of the gospel: God’s mercy is not earned; it is a gift freely given to those who recognize their bankruptcy before Him.

The Response

The beauty of this passage is that the publican’s honesty becomes his justification. God does not overlook the sin, but He responds to the humility. The mercy requested is granted because the sinner has stopped pretending to be holy. By admitting he is "a sinner," the publican ceases his war against God and accepts his total dependence on Him. This demonstrates that the doorway to salvation is not a ladder of moral ascent, but a valley of obedience and humility.

Honesty About Sin

You might believe that your mistakes have exhausted the patience of Heaven or that you are the one exception to the rule of grace. But look again at the publican. He didn't need to find the right words, climb a mountain, or scrub his soul clean before he approached God; he only had to be honest about his sin.

Your sin is not a barrier to God's mercy; it is the very thing that makes His mercy necessary and available to you. Right now, in the midst of your shame, there is a love that does not recoil from your scars or judge your failures. Salvation isn't a trophy for the perfect; it is a lifeline thrown to the drowning. You don't have to earn your way back. You cannot outrun your failures, nor can you build a high enough tower of good deeds to reach a holy God. Jesus has already paid what you could never pay, suffered what you could never endure, and risen so that your guilt can be gone and your soul made new. 

Today, mercy is waiting for you; won’t you accept the free gift of salvation today…

Where Is Your Hearts Loving Rest?

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Jesus, lover of my soul, 

let me to thy bosom fly, 

while the nearer waters roll, 

while the tempest still is high; 

hide me, O my Savior, hide, 

till the storm of life is past; 

safe into the haven guide, 

O receive my soul at last!

Charles Wesley (1740)
Psalter Hymnal, 1987

Run Your Race With Patience

The Things That Are Slowing You Down

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

The Quiet Work of Laying It Aside

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…”
The image is not of a quiet jog but of a long, demanding run—one observed by generations who have gone before you. This “cloud of witnesses” is not there to scrutinize your missteps, but to testify that faith can endure. Their lives whisper a single truth: keep going. They stumbled, they waited, they suffered delays and detours, and yet they finished by trusting in God’s abiding word.

“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…”
Before the race can be run well, something must be removed. Weights are not always sins; they are often expectations, comparisons, disappointments, or timelines you thought God would follow. And then there is the sin that so easily entangles—patterns that trip us repeatedly and tempt us to quit altogether. These are not cast off in a moment of emotion, but in a thousand quiet decisions to keep choosing obedience even when progress feels slow.

“…and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

The phrase “run with patience” encapsulates the substance of your spiritual journey. Unlike a quick sprint, life demands a patient endurance—an ongoing commitment to faith and doing the simple things well. Patience involves waiting, continuing, and trusting, even when the finish line seems distant or obscured.

Patience is a virtue that cultivates resilience, allowing us to greet challenges with courage rather than despair. It signifies embracing the process, acknowledging that growth often requires time, pain, and perseverance.

The Race Set Before Us

Each of us has a "race" uniquely assigned, reflecting our individual paths and struggles. This race is not a competition against others but a personal journey toward fulfillment and purpose. As we navigate this race, we learn to rely not solely on our strength but also on the support of the cloud of witnesses and ultimately on the grace of Jesus Christ.

You might trip over your "besetting sins," you get winded by the "weights" and cares of this world, and you look at the horizon wondering if we’ll ever arrive.  However, the beauty of "running with patience" is that it changes the definition of winning. In this race, winning isn't about being the first one across the line; it’s about the spiritual grit, faithful endurance.

When your legs feel like lead and the "cloud of witnesses" feels a million miles away, remember that your pace doesn't determine your placement. Jesus isn't waiting at the finish line with a stopwatch; He is running beside you as the "Author and Finisher."

Faithful Is He That Called Us

The emotional weight of this race isn't found in the speed of your stride, but in the constitution of your spirit. It’s the beauty of a heart that says, "I may be tired and I may be moving slower than I’d like—but I am still on the track."  Just be faithful. The finish line is certain, the witnesses are cheering, and every slow, painful step you take is a victory in the eyes of the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God…Amen

The Moment the Whole Lump Begins to Change

The Lie of ‘Mostly Good

Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump

When Sin Works in Silence

Leaven, a tiny ingredient, has the incredible ability to cause dough to rise, thereby altering its very nature. In doing so, leaven exemplifies how sin can ripple outwards, magnifying its effects far beyond its initial scope

The concept of a little leaven, is a simple image, almost ordinary: a pinch of yeast folded into dough. So small it can disappear between the fingers, so unimpressive it seems hardly worth noting. Yet once sin is mixed in, it goes to work quietly and relentlessly. Sin tends to spread where the eye cannot see, distorting the texture, the very nature of who you are.

The Spread That Destroys

The "lump" doesn't just contain the leaven; it becomes the leaven. Eventually, the original purity of the dough is gone, replaced entirely by the fermented sin nature. And so, do not underestimate the power of sins presence, sins voice, and sins actions. 

The word of God uses leaven as a warning. A small sin can spread until it reshapes your entire life. But in contrast, a small seed of righteousness can transform everything it touches. 

The Reason Why Your Almost Still Fails

You often comfort yourself with the math of "mostly.” You'll say, "I am mostly a good person," or "My life is 99% in order."But the law of the leaven ignores your percentages. It reminds you that purity isn't a volume game—it's a presence game.

There is a profound, stinging grief in realizing how a single, unaddressed shadow can eventually darken the rooms of our entire lives. You see it in the way one "small" secret can dismantle a decades-long marriage, or how one "tiny" seed of pride can topple a ministry. The tragedy isn't that you are "bad"; it's that you were careless with the small things. You let the leaven in because it looked too tiny to be a threat.

But here is the gravity of your story: Your heart is the "whole lump." It is precious, and without price, and it is worth guarding with a fierce, uncompromising hand.

Don't wait for the "big" sins to start fighting. Watch the borders of your thoughts. Be ruthless with the small bitterness, the tiny deceptions, and the microscopic greeds. The most courageous thing you can do today is to stop making excuses for the "little" things and realize that in the economy of God and your eternal soul, there is no such thing as a small compromise.

Protect the dough. Clear out the old leaven. Your peace, your integrity, and your very self depend on the purity of the grain.

God Isn’t After Your Money, He’s After Your Heart

 God Measures the Heart, Not the Gift

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

It’s About More Than Money

This passage from 2 Corinthians 9:7 is often treated as a financial directive, but at its core, it is a mental and spiritual blueprint for your heart. It describes the internal "engine room" where our intentions are forged and warns against the emotional parasites that drain the joy from our generosity.

Furthermore the passage forces you to measure the motivation of your heart. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart…” Paul makes clear that true generosity is not accidental, impulsive, or coerced. It is intentional. Before a gift ever reaches the hand, it is shaped in the heart. God is not measuring amounts; He is weighing motives.

What To Avoid

The verse also highlights two negative approaches to giving that we should avoid: giving "grudgingly" or "of necessity." Giving grudgingly implies a sense of resentment or obligation, where you feel forced to give but do so with a heavy heart. On the other hand, giving out of necessity implies a sense of compulsion or legal necessity, where you give simply because you feel you have to, rather than because you want to.

In contrast, the verse encourages us to adopt a positive and joyful approach to giving. It reminds us that "God loveth a cheerful giver."  Giving should be an expression of our love and gratitude to God, and that it should bring us joy and delight.

The Connection Between Your Heart and Your Hand

The beauty of this passage is the realization that the "how" of the heart is more important than the "how much" of the hand. God does not need your resources; He owns the "cattle on a thousand hills." What He desires is the rhythm of your heart. When you give "grudgingly," you are telling the world that God is a taker who must be paid off. But when you give "cheerfully," you are testifying that God is a fountain who cannot be exhausted. 

The greatest gift you ever give is not the dollar in the plate or the hour in the soup kitchen—it is the transformed heartthat finds more joy in the "sending out" than it ever did in the "holding on." You were made to be a conduit of grace, not a reservoir of anxiety. A cheerful giver is not someone who has little to lose, but someone who knows they have already received everything in Christ.

Forgiven Forever, Now Written in the Book of Life

 

A New Name in Glory

Chorus
There's a new name Written down in glory, 
And it's mine, (And it's mine,) 
oh yes, it's mine! (yes, it's mine!)
And the white-robed Angels sing the story, 
"A sinner has come home." (home, has come home." 
For there's a new name written down in glory, 
And it's mine, (And it's mine,) 
oh yes, it's mine! (yes, it's mine!) 
With my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven, 
Nevermore to roam.

In the Book 'tis written, "Saved by grace." 
Oh, the joy that came to my soul! 
Now I am forgiven, and I know 
By the blood I am made whole.

C. Austin Miles (1910)

Go Tell it on the Mountain

Refrain:

Go tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and ev'rywhere;

Go tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born!

1 While shepherds kept their watching

O’er silent flocks by night,

Behold, throughout the heavens

There shone a holy light. [Refrain]

2 The shepherds feared and trembled

When lo! above the earth

Rang out the angel chorus

That hailed our Savior‘s birth. [Refrain]

3 Down in a lowly manger

The humble Christ was born,

And God sent us salvation

That blessed Christmas morn. [Refrain]

When is Christmas?

Context of Christmas

Every year, as December rolls around, the world prepares for 25 December. We hang lights, exchange gifts, and gather with family. But if you look closer at scripture—specifically through the lens of the King James Bible—we find that the true "arrival" of Jesus Christ in your life does not have to be bound to that one wintery day on the calendar.

The true significance of Christmas lies not in the day of celebration, but in the profound spiritual reality of God's plan of salvation through the completed work of Jesus Christ.

Christ's Birth According to the Scriptures

According to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod, in the town of Bethlehem. The Gospel of Luke provides the most detailed account of Christ's birth, describing:

BIBLICAL REFERENCE	KEY DETAILS
Luke 2:1-7	Census under Caesar Augustus
Luke 2:8-20	Shepherds witnessing the birth

The Deeper Meaning of Christmas

Christmas is not merely a commemoration of a historical event, but a celebration of God's redemptive plan for humanity. The birth of Jesus Christ is intrinsically linked to His ultimate mission of salvation, which culminates in:

1. His sacrificial death on the cross
2. His burial in a borrowed tomb
3. His glorious resurrection

Significance of Christ's Arrival

The apostle Paul eloquently explains this in Romans 5:8: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

The Complete Redemption Story

STAGE OF REDEMPTION	BIBLICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Birth	Word becomes flesh
Death	Atonement for human sin
Burial	Confirmation of Christ's complete sacrifice
Resurrection	Victory over sin and death

When to Truly Celebrate Christmas

While 25 December is the traditional date, the true celebration of Christmas is not confined to a single day. It is a continuous acknowledgment of God's love, demonstrated through Christ's complete redemptive work.

Scripture References

John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures

Conclusion

Christmas is more than a date—it's a profound spiritual reality. It's about God's love manifested through Jesus Christ, whose birth, death, burial, and resurrection provide hope and salvation for all humanity.

The most important question is not "When is Christmas?" but "Have you accepted Christ's gift of salvation?"