LIFTING UP CHRIST

1. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” (John 12:32)

2. LIFTING UP CHRIST • While Jesus is speaking here of His death on the cross, we “lift Him up” by exalting Him. • We must “lift Him up” in five areas. • We must “lift Him up” on the cross! • We must “lift Him up” from the tomb! • We must “lift Him up” from the earth! • We must “lift Him up” to the throne! • We must “lift Him up” in our hearts!

3. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP ON THE CROSS • His enemies physically lifted Him up on the cross. • Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” (John 8:28) • And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. (John 19:17-18)

4. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP ON THE CROSS • It was on the cross that: • He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death. (Phil. 2:8) • He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (Heb. 5:8-9) • We figuratively lift Him up on the cross by being crucified with Him. • I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)

5. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP FROM THE TOMB • His body was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. • A large stone was placed in front of the entrance to the tomb. • The tomb was sealed and guarded.

6. After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby. (John 19:38-42)

7. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.... On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard. (Matt. 27:59-60, 62-66)

8. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP FROM THE TOMB • His body was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. • A large stone was placed in front of the entrance to the tomb. • The tomb was sealed and guarded. • God literally lifted Him up from the tomb.

9. “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” (Acts 2:22-24)

10. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep . (1 Cor. 15:17-20)

11. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP FROM THE TOMB • His body was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. • A large stone was placed in front of the entrance to the tomb. • The tomb was sealed and guarded. • God literally lifted Him up from the tomb. • We figuratively lift Him up from the tomb by walking “in newness of life.”

12. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Rom. 6:4-6)

13. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)

14. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP FROM THE EARTH • He was lifted up from the earth when He ascended back to heaven.

15. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

16. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP FROM THE EARTH • He was lifted up from the earth when He ascended back to heaven. • He ascended back to heaven in order to become our High Priest.

17. Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law. (Heb. 8:1-4)

18. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP FROM THE EARTH • He was lifted up from the earth when He ascended back to heaven. • He ascended back to heaven in order to become our High Priest. • We lift Him up from the earth when we “offer up spiritual sacrifices.”

19. You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Heb. 13:15-16)

20. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP TO THE THRONE • He ascended back to heaven in order to receive dominion.

21. “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.” (Dan 7:13-14)

22. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP TO THE THRONE • He ascended back to heaven in order to receive dominion. • He was exalted to the throne by God, the Father.

23. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30-31)

24. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP TO THE THRONE • He ascended back to heaven in order to receive dominion. • He was exalted to the throne by God, the Father. • He is now sitting at the right hand of God.

25. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Heb. 1:1-3)

26. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (Rom. 8:34) ...which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. (Eph. 1:20)

27. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP TO THE THRONE • He ascended back to heaven in order to receive dominion. • He was exalted to the throne by God, the Father. • He is now sitting at the right hand of God. • We lift Him up to the throne by doing all things in His name, or by His authority.

28. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Col. 3:17)

29. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP IN OUR HEARTS • We lift Him up in our hearts by a willingness to “suffer for righteousness’ sake.”

30. And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. (1 Peter 3:13-15)

31. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP IN OUR HEARTS • We lift Him up in our hearts by a willingness to “suffer for righteousness’ sake.” • We lift Him up in our hearts by seeking “those things which are above.”

32. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (Col. 3:1-2)

33. WE MUST LIFT HIM UP IN OUR HEARTS • We lift Him up in our hearts by a willingness to “suffer for righteousness’ sake.” • We lift Him up in our hearts by seeking “those things which are above.” • Are you lifting Him up in your heart and life?