The Attraction Of The Cross

Adapted from a Sermon by

George Burder

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

(John 12:32)

The sermon this morning, adapted from George Burder, will draw our attention to The Attraction Of The Cross. And our text is John 12:32: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

The sufferings of our Lord had this peculiarity in them---they were all exactly foreseen.

In great mercy God hides from us the particular trials we will endure in the future. He knows our weaknesses, and that the foreknowledge of future afflictions would not only deprive us of present enjoyment, but prevent our activity and usefulness in the world. But the Lord Jesus Christ (the speaker in our text) had an exact foreknowledge of all the sufferings he was to endure; and he often dropped a hint concerning them to his disciples, though they did not well understand what he meant.

To Nicodemus he had long before said, "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up;"(John 3:14) and when he was journeying to Jerusalem, for the last time, he said to his disciples, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise."(Mark 10:33-34)

Yet, with all these sufferings in full view, he was instant and active in all the work which the Father had given him to do, and never shrunk from his difficult undertaking, though he knew that suffering and death were close at hand.

These words of our text are spoken on a memorable occasion. Some pious strangers coming to Jerusalem, expressed to his disciples a desire to be introduced to him; "they wished to see Jesus."(John 12:21) Our Lord rejoiced, because it was a prelude to the introduction of us poor Gentiles into his church; but before this could take place, he had to die; for as a grain of wheat must first perish in the earth before it can produce fruit, so must Jesus become a sacrifice for sin by his death, that those who believe in him may not perish, but have everlasting life.

And then observe in our text the happy effect. He, the blessed Redeemer, having been lifted up upon the cross, exalted to glory, and exhibited in the gospel, he will prove the great drawing force; he will, by the preaching of his gospel, and by the influence of his Spirit, draw to himself, in faith, and love, and obedience, "all people,"(John 12:32) that is, all true Christians, in every country, and in every age. Yes, millions and millions of immortal souls, saved from sin and hell, and the grave, will forsake all and cling to him, so that nothing will be able to separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

From these encouraging and instructive words, we will take the opportunity to consider,

First. The elevation of the blessed Jesus upon the cross;---"so must the Son of Man be lifted up."(John 3:14)

Secondly. The attractive effect of that elevation; "I will draw all people to myself."

We are first to consider the elevation of the blessed Jesus upon the cross; for this is, doubtless, intended, as appears from the words immediately following the text---"He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die."(John 12:33)

And here let us reflect both upon the matter of fact itself; and upon its great purpose.

The matter of fact itself is deeply interesting and moving. Behold the Sufferer! He is no ordinary person. He is a great; He is an innocent; He is a benevolent; indeed, He is a divine person. The sufferings of the great and noble, of princes and kings, usually excite peculiar interest. When did ever such a glorious person suffer? "They killed the Author of life;"(Acts 3:15) "they crucified the Lord of glory:"(1 Corinthians 2:8) and, if an innocent, as well as exalted person, dies like a criminal, what sympathy is excited! Never was there so innocent a sufferer as the Lord Jesus; it could never be said of any other, "he committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth;"(1 Peter 2:22) for he was the holy Lamb of God, "without blemish and without spot."(1 Peter 1:19)

If an unusually benevolent person suffers, there is great sorrow, if not indignation; but never was there a sufferer so benevolent as Jesus; his heart was all goodness and tenderness, and he had spent all his time and his strength in going about doing good. Consider, if all the objects of his tender compassion had been collected around his cross, what an poignant group they would have formed! If all the persons whose eyes he had opened, whose ears he had unstopped, whose limbs he had restored, whose diseases he had healed, whose sorrows he had soothed---had they all been gathered around the cross, what a great crowd they would have been and would they not have been ready to exclaim, He must not die!; or, if he must die, let us die with him: but the bulk of the spectators was very differently affected. Filled with rage, they added insult to cruelty, and they took a savage delight in his shame and torment.

His glory was indeed veiled, and to the eyes of sense he appeared a forlorn and deserted wrongdoer; yet amid all his sufferings, there were some enlightened persons who "beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."(John 1:14) Indeed, the more thoughtful among the multitude were deeply affected with the awful signs which occurred at his crucifixion; and were constrained to say, "Truly this was the Son of God!"(Matthew 27:54)

Contemplate his sufferings, and say if ever there was "any sorrow like his sorrow."(Lamentations 1:12) He was indeed "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;"(Isaiah 53:3) but the greatest sufferings were reserved for last. When "his hour" was approaching, hear what he says, "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour."(John 12:27) No; he would not say that, because it was for that very purpose that he came into the world.

Consider the agonies of his soul in the garden of Gethsemane. Think of them, you who have pleasant gardens; while you tread on the smooth walks, behold the beautiful flowers, and inhale their various scents---think of the Lord of life and glory, in that garden where, to expiate the sins which first began in Eden, "he was sorrowful and troubled,"(Matthew 26:37) he was "sorrowful even to death."(Matthew 26:38)

The agony of his soul was such that his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Behold him prostrate on the cold ground, embracing, as it were, the dust for us, who are sinful dust and ashes, that he might raise us to mansions above the stars. Hear his mournful cries. He had been accustomed to suffer, but not to complain: but now, he could be silent no more. "My soul," said he, "is very sorrowful, even to death."(Matthew 26:38) "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you."(Matthew 26:39) "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done:"(Matthew 26:42) and again, "being in an agony, he prayed the more earnestly,"(Luke 22:44) "with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death."(Hebrews 5:7)

At length the traitor arrives, at the head of an armed crowd: the hypocritical Judas betrays him. Jesus speaks, and his adversaries fall, like dead men, to the ground; they rise and renew the assault; he submits and is bound; he is carried away like a criminal. And what a succession of sorrows filled that tedious night! while he was hurried from place to place---to the house of Caiaphas, of Pilate, of Herod, and Pilate again. He was falsely accused, and cruelly condemned. What base falsehoods, what gross injustice! Struck on the cheek---spit upon---crowned with sharp thorns---and severely flogged in the Roman manner.

See him, bearing, weary and spent, the heavy cross upon his bleeding shoulders! He is stretched, at length, upon the accursed tree; his hands and feet nailed to it with large spikes; suspended there, bleeding and agonizing, for several hours; exposed to the insults and mockery of an enraged multitude!

In the meantime, there were sufferings far more severe than any that could be inflicted upon his body by the hands of wicked men---agonies that afflicted his whole soul! Who can explain the meaning of those mysterious words---"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!"(Matthew 27:46) Yet, amid all this scene of woe, Heaven appears to commiserate. The sun, as if ashamed of the atrocious act, withdrew its light, and the rocks, less insensible than the hearts of men, were split in half; the solid earth itself was convulsed; and the graves, as if conscious they could not long retain their prey, were seen to open, ready to resign it. Such are the outlines of the historical events when the glorious sufferer was lifted up on the cross.

But what could be the purpose of all this? Is there not something greatly mysterious in it, that such a person should suffer, and suffer in such a manner?

The gospel provides a key to the whole. It tells us that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son;"(John 3:16) it tells us that one man must die for the people, "the righteous for the unrighteous,"(1 Peter 3:18) that if man is to be pardoned, a satisfaction must be made; and who could make it but the Son of God himself? For this purpose he voluntarily came. "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me."(Psalm 40:7) "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."(Luke 19:10)

The sacrifice is made. "It is finished,"(John 19:30) said the expiring Savior: and it is accepted, for, behold, he rises from the dead and ascends into heaven. God is well pleased; so pleased, that he commands this gospel of his dear Son to be made known to the whole world; he commissions his servants to go and proclaim it to every creature under heaven; he furnishes them with miraculous powers, to enable them to do it. They proclaim "peace through Jesus Christ,"(Acts 10:36) wherever they go, and invite the greatest sinners to come to God through him; assuring them that "whoever comes to him he will never cast out,"(John 6:37) but be accepted, pardoned, and saved. Thus it was that "he was lifted up," and by this elevation he draws men to him---which is

The second thing we were to contemplate. "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

To the carnal eye there was nothing at all attractive in the original spectacle. Men saw nothing at Calvary but shame, and suffering and disgrace; and, notwithstanding the miracles with which the first gospel ministers proclaimed the word, how was it received? To the Jews it was a stumbling block; to the Greeks it was foolishness. Men, in general, saw no beauty nor glory in a crucified Savior; they were rather disgusted, and rejected the counsel of God against themselves. Nevertheless, the cross of Christ is that grand object which God himself has planted, and by which he will effectually draw millions of souls to himself, even all whom he has ordained to everlasting life; "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." Not, indeed, all individuals; for all are not drawn: but all sorts of men; and in all ages; and in all countries, wherever his gospel is carried. "I will draw all people to myself."

This expression reminds us of our distance and alienation from the great and blessed God. We are far from God; but we are not at all inclined to return to him; there is an aversion of heart; "the mind that is set on the flesh," sad to say, "is hostile to God;"(Romans 8:7) and its language is, even to the blessed God himself, "Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways."(Job 21:14) And from this dangerous distance, we never can be restored, but by the special grace of God. So our Lord speaks, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."(John 6:44) And, in another place, he says, "you refuse to come to me that you may have life."(John 5:40) The fact is, they cannot, because they will not; the fault is in the will; and this is extremely criminal; it is a desperate criminality of heart that keeps men at a distance from God, and keeps them from him, when there is such an attractive scene as this set before them.

And, what is more, the expression "drawing," denotes the pleasing, persuasive, and powerful manner, in which souls are brought to Christ. It is expressed in a similar way by the prophet Hosea; "I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love."(Hosea 11:4) To an enlightened mind, and to a renewed heart, nothing can appear so rational, so desirable, so beneficial, so delightful, as a compliance with the commands of the gospel.

In the day to day of human life, men are attracted by interest or by pleasure; they are very ready to embrace measures that promise them safety and profit; and should it not be so in religion too? The first beacon in religion is safety. In imminent danger, men eagerly catch at the first means of deliverance. If a house is on fire, how gladly will the inhabitant take the closest means of escape! If a person is in danger of drowning, he will eagerly hold fast to anything that is at hand, and never let go his grasp, but with safety, or with death. If the body is dangerously diseased, how welcome is skillful advice, and potent medicines! for "all that a man has he will give for his life:"(Job 2:4) and will men give less for their souls? No, not when they are brought to earnestly cry "What must I do to be saved?" and when that cry is heard in heaven, the answer is promptly given, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."(Acts 16:30, 31) Christ, the great Deliverer, is at hand, able and ready to save to the uttermost all who come to God by him.

This was strikingly illustrated by our blessed Lord when he spoke to Nicodemus, and said, "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."(John 3:14-15) The Israelites, stung with fiery serpents, were in imminent danger of death. They were told that safety, and health, and life, might be obtained by one look at the appointed object. They looked and lived. Likewise, the convinced sinner gladly turns to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is invited to do so, and he is always welcome when he applies; nor will any one look to the Savior in vain.

Again, not only safety, but pleasure is a powerful attraction. The love of pleasure is universal. Every person born into the world possesses it; but, sadly! it is the love of sinful pleasures that proves the ruin of all mankind; but, in the gospel, there are offered to us pleasures that are pure, that are free, that are lasting; "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace;"(Proverbs 3:17) even "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding"(Philippians 4:7)---the "joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,"(1 Peter 1:8)---the "hope that does not put us to shame."(Romans 5:5) These are freely offered to us in the gospel; the delights of communion with God, the pleasures of reading his word, attending his house and ordinances, and enjoying communion with his people. These, and many, many more pleasures, are offered to us; and these are very attractive to all those who are taught of God.

There is also something that is heartwarming in the condescension and benevolence of our superiors. When persons far above us in rank, show a disinterested concern for our welfare, and are willing to take pains, and deny themselves, to help us, it powerfully attracts the soul, and excites grateful feelings in every generous mind. And so it is in religion.

See an instance of it in the woman, of whom you read in the gospel of Luke, who followed, our Lord to the house of the Pharisee; and there we find, she plentifully watered the feet of our blessed Lord with tears of penitence and gratitude; she also anointed them with rich and fragrant ointment, attracting the notice of all who were in the house, and exciting the resentment of the proud, self-righteous Pharisee: but our blessed Lord vindicates and commends her conduct, and says, "I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven---for she loved much."(Luke 7:47)

This it is, that accounts for the active services and energies of the ministers of God, in all ages, who most gladly spend and are spent in the service, and for the glory of their divine Lord. When the apostle Paul speaks of his own labors and sufferings, with those also of his companions, he says, "We are afflicted in every way; we are perplexed; we are persecuted; we are given over to death for Jesus' sake."(2 Corinthians 4:8, 9, 11) Yet all this was calmly endured and joyfully suffered! And why was all this? How could it be accounted for? He tells us, "The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."(2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

And here, likewise, is the center of Christian communion. This accounts for that harmony and concord, which, in the greatest and best respects, is found among all the followers of Christ, however varied their denominations may be, because it is one and the same great object that has attracted them all and brought them all together. He is the root of Jesse, and "in him will the Gentiles hope;"(Romans 15:12) indeed, according to the promise, God will "unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."(Ephesians 1:10)

Here, then, is a brief summary of the religion of Jesus Christ, Christ lifted up, upon the cross, as our atoning sacrifice; and the blessed effects of this, upon the hearts of all believers---"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

Now let us ask ourselves, What do we know of this attraction? Lets every one of us ask the question. I have heard of this attraction; what do I know of it? Am I one of those so drawn? All men are drawn by something apparently good---by pleasure or by interest, or by wisdom, but chiefly by the world; this is the great magnet; there are few comparatively that are drawn to Christ, but multitudes are drawn away from him; and for what? for what, do you neglect Jesus?

Think, think while it is yet the day of grace, how much you will need him at a future time; anticipate the solemn hour, when you must die; and don't think it a uselessly gloomy business to anticipate it, for it will come, it will surely come; and unless you have been drawn to Jesus, how awful will that hour be!

When flesh and heart are failing, what will you do without Christ? You may do without him now; in the midst of your worldly engagements and pleasures, you may contrive to fill up your time, thoughtless of Christ and salvation; but what will you do when you come to die? What will you do when you are called to stand at the bar of God? If he is not your friend, better had it been for you that you had never been born. Turn away your eyes then from beholding vanity. Turn them to the blessed Jesus: "Behold the Lamb of God,"(John 1:29) who is now evidently set before you, as a crucified Savior. At this moment his language is, "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!"(Isaiah 45:22)

And so consider: What a glorious object is a crucified Savior! Let mistaken men, let sensualists, let rationalists, pour contempt upon the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; but here is where our hearts will rest, nor will all the allurements of the world be able to drive us away. Here will we live; here will we die. It is here we find every religious advantage---everything we can desire.

Do we seek pardon? He who hung on the cross is "exalted as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."(Acts 5:31) Do we seek peace? Like those of old, we "look to him and are radiant."(Psalm 34:5) Do we wish to feel godly sorrow in our hearts? We look to him who was pierced, and we mourn;(Zechariah 12:10) we abhor ourselves, and "repent in dust and ashes."(Job 42:6) Do we desire victory over sin? Only he who died for sin, can strengthen us to die to it; and "he will subdue our iniquities."(Micah 7:19 NKJV)

One look at Jesus will prove, as one said, "both law and gospel to us." Do we seek heaven itself, or hope for happiness? There, even there, will Jesus be the grand object of worship and adoration; and the essence of the heavenly glory will consist in "seeing him as he is"(1 John 3:2) in seeing the Lamb that once was slain,(Revelation 5:6) but who is now "the Lamb in the midst of the throne;"(Revelation 7:17) and there we will be with him, where he is, and behold his glory. Well then may we most heartily unite with the apostle of the Gentiles, and say, "Far be it from us to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."(Galatians 6:14)

To whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory everlasting.