To be lifted up is either to be exalted or to rise above the occasion. Jesus always rose above the occasion. All who came to him went back satisfied beyond expectation. Jesus said in Matthew 11: 5; Luke 7: 22, go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. Jesus wants us to rise above all occasions to the glory of God.
In his mission on earth Jesus was lifted up in three key respects, at the transfiguration; on the cross; and at his ascension.
At the transfiguration
On the mountain with Peter and James and John, Matthew 17: 2-3 recorded, he (Jesus) was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. (See also Mark 9: 4-5; Luke 9: 29-30) At the transfiguration, God showed Jesus as embodying the totality of the prophets’ ministry.
Moses gave God’s laws and commandments to Israel and led them from slavery through conquest to the threshold of promised land. Jesus represented God’s law and the way of redemption and the fulfillment of his promise. Elijah was identified with unbridled faith and fortitude. His faith is recorded in 2 Kings 1: 10-14; 18: 1. We learn of his faith against four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal.
In 1 Kings 18: 22-40 Elijah was left alone to a contest of God’s divinity. Whilst the Baal worshippers failed to command fire from heaven to consume their offering, Elijah mocked them, drenched his offering in water and prayed for fire from heaven to consume his offering (summarized). Jesus represented faith in God’s divinity to mankind. These men were exalted for standing for God. What about us?
Jesus was exalted with God’s approval beyond the levels of Moses and Elijah combined. He was God incarnate and the reason to trust and have faith in him. Jesus wants us to be lifted up as his prophets to rescue mankind from the slavery of sin by faith which the two prophets symbolized. Our task is to open up to him with a heart to heart chat so we may be transfigured by grace in righteousness.
At the cross of crucifixion
On the cross, Jesus was lifted up in two respects, by humankind unknowingly; and by God by his divine plan. John 3: 14-15 says and just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. We lift up Jesus when we believe in him for eternal life. Those who looked at the lifted serpent in the wilderness got healed of snake bites. In like manner those of us afflicted by sin will be healed by looking up to Jesus lifted on the cross.
Jesus said in John 8: 28 when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he. We will only behold Jesus’ glory when we lift him up. When we lift Jesus up, he will lift us up. Our glory comes from Jesus’ death on the cross. He forgave us our sins when he was lifted up on the cross. He made two specific prayers for us on the cross, Luke 23: 34 Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing; and John 19: 30, it is finished. Our sins would not have been forgiven but for these statements which Jesus made when he was lifted on the cross.
God lifted Jesus up on the cross so his mission for our redemption will be complete. Jesus wants to share his glory with us and wants us to be lifted up with him above sin. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5: 7 give these commands as well, so that they may be above reproach. Let us look up to Jesus and his finished work on the cross where all our sins were lifted off us and crucified with him.
At Jesus’ ascension
Jesus said in John 12: 32 I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. Indeed, Jesus now sits at the right hand of God from where he intercedes for us as our advocate. He lifts us up by his Holy Spirit when we are down. He renews us when we are worn out, and strengthens us when we are weak. We will be raptured into heaven because Jesus has been lifted up and reigns forever.
When Jesus was lifted up from the earth after his earthly duties on the cross, for those who believed in his name, he sent his holy spirit to be their remembrance, comforter, guide and companion till the end of the age. He said in John 14: 3… I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. We will be lifted up in his glory if we eschew sin and embrace righteousness in obedience to his call. Do we want to be lifted up with Christ Jesus? Where would we be without Jesus?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, be lifted up in our hearts for the salvation of our souls. Continue to lift our sinful souls from sin unto righteousness in you; from sorrow and bitterness to joy in you; from weakness to strength in you; and from eternal death to everlasting life in you. Be exalted in our lives to your glory and honour in all our deeds in your holy name, Amen!!
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