Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | John 12:32 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 12:32 "And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw all people to Myself [Gentiles, as well as Jews]." |
Bible Question:
Kathy, - Where does the Bible mention "lifting His Name" ... - Why do you say "Lord I lift Your Name on High" ... what is the Biblical source? John 12:32-33 is about His being lifted up on the cross. John 3:14 is a cross reference and it mentions Moses (Num 21:4-9), where those who looked at the bronze snake up on the pole lived (vv 8-9). None of these references mention anything about lifting His name or any name. So where do you see lifting His Name being Biblical? Searcher |
Bible Answer: Searcher, I quite agree with you, and it is pushing Scripture to hang on to the phrases "lift up" or "lift up His name" and insist on their being applied to something we do on behalf of Christ. In the plain language of John 12:32,33, it is horrifying to think of lifting Christ up to be crucified again on the cross. Moreover, we are most presumptuous to think that weak and sinful man can "lift up" His holy name. He is very God of very God. Who do we think we are that we have the power to lift up the name of the Son of God? His name is already and eternally lifted up: His name is above every name, and it is not within our poor power to lift it up. It is we, not Christ, who are in need of being lifted up. We need to revise our terminology. "Lifting up" Jesus is not something we are commanded to do, nor can do. He lifted me out of the bonds of sin and death and gave me life. I have no power to lift Him! The terminologies we should be using -- and stop toying around and playing silly word games with this "lifting up" business (We are taking it out of its biblical context in John 12:32,33) -- are words such as praise, worship, love: these things we can do. And should do. These things Jesus commands: to praise Him, worship Him, love Him. The only people who ever "lifted Him up" crucified Him! Must we insist that He be lifted up again and again? God forbid! ....... This thread and another similar one have their genesis in a bad interpretation of John 12:32,33 by a user who took the passage of 12:32 out of context, apparently ignoring 12:33. From it two long threads have issued. That's par for the Forum course. We latch onto a thin thread and weave it into a fuzzy piece of cloth a mile long :-) It wearies me. I think I'll mulch leaves tomorrow and give my body some exercise and my soul a rest! God's blessings, Steve. --Hank |