“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” — John 12:32

Jesus spoke these words shortly after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, knowing that His hour of glory was actually an hour of execution. To the Greeks and Jews listening, a “lifting up” usually meant an enthronement or a victory; Jesus used the phrase as a double meaning, signaling that His throne would be a wooden cross and His victory would be won through a public death.

The cross was intended to be a sign of ultimate shame, yet in the hands of the Redeemer, it became a divine magnet. As He was hoisted between heaven and earth, the irresistible pull of His love began to overcome our resistance, drawing us out of the quicksand of our rebellion with a force that grace alone provides. Jesus invites us to stop resisting the pull of those scarred hands. As we look up at the One suspended in agony, we realize that His elevation was for our invitation, drawing us closer to the heart of the Father through Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice.

Prayer: Father God, I feel the draw of the Cross in my spirit. I thank You that Jesus was willing to be lifted up so that I might be brought home. Forgive me for the times I have wandered, and draw me today into a deeper, more intimate union with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.