The Meaning of the Cross, Day 18

Welcome to the Day 18 of our series, “40 Days of the Cross.” Each day we are taking just a few minutes to look at a word which will help us better understand the meaning of the cross. 

Today’s word is draw. Now when I say the word draw, I don’t mean draw as in draw a picture. I mean the act of pulling or gathering, as in I would like to draw your attention to the cross today. I pick this word today because of a scripture verse that a lot of you already know. Jesus is speaking to a group of people who have just heard a voice from heaven declaring that God is glorifying Himself through Jesus. He tells the crowd that the time has come for judgment and for the defeat of the ruler of this world. And then Jesus says this in John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 

Now, we sing songs about lifting Jesus up and that He will draw people to Himself when we do so. But this Scripture has nothing to do with lifting Jesus up in praise. It is not about God’s people worshiping Jesus and lifting up His name. In the very next verse, John tells us what this “lifted up” is about: “He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die” (John 12:33). “When I am lifted up” is not about God’s people proclaiming the name of Jesus; it is about His body being nailed to a cross and lifted up into the air on a hill outside the city of Jerusalem. 

Jesus does not say He will draw people to Himself when they proclaim His name. Jesus is saying that through His death on the cross, He will draw all people to Himself. It is Jesus on the cross which pulls people to Him. The cross is a sign of the love that Jesus has for us. That love, that act of sacrifice, will draw people to Jesus. The cross had been a symbol of disgrace, but through Jesus’ death, the cross has become a symbol of love and hope which draws people to Him. We’ll talk more about the word hope tomorrow. 

After we pray today, please take some time to remember how Jesus drew you to Himself through His death on the cross.
 

Heavenly Father, the death of Your Son on the cross drew me to You. As I think upon the cross, I continue to be drawn to You. Thank You for accepting me. Let us all be continually be drawn closer to You and let us share the message of the cross with others who need to be drawn to You. In the name of Your Son Jesus, amen. 

Thanks for reading today. 

Continued tomorrow