The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 155

II. 'WHAT 'll"AB THE OONDITION OF THE EXERCJIBE OF TBJB BUPERIIUMAN POWER? 'l'he exprcs~ion, "lifting up," 11.s 11.pplied by Jesus to himself, is interpreted for us by the ernngeliet. Used three times, it denotes, in each instance, the manner of Christ's death the lifting up upon the oroBB. This WM, indeed, to be followed by the lifting up to th~ throne of empire 11.nd of glory. As a Se.viour, Jesus WAB crucified; RB 11, Divine Saviour ho WII.S ex:Rlted. 'l'he wisdom of God, the power of God, were to be displayed in thi~ t.riumph of humilie.tion, suffering, and dee.th. Ill. WHAT WAS THE NATURE, THE ACTION, OF Tlll8 ATTRAOTIVB POWER? It is vory ~ignificant that the "drawing" which Jesus exercised displayed itself even whilst he bung upon the tree. The multitude gathered a.round; e.nd if the soldiers viewed the scene with indifference, there were women who watched and wept, and there were among the people those who smote their breasts in sorrow and in fee.r. But we have to notice, not the curiosity or the natural emotions excited by the epeotacle of one suffer- ing crucifixion, but the spiritual attraction of Calvary. The incomparable love and pit)• manifested by the Crucified possess a mysterious charm. It is the Shepherd :,mitten for the flock he came to a.ave, it is the Friend laying down his life for his friends, who exercises this Divine magnetism. They who discern in the Lord's suffer- ings and death the appointed means of man's redemption, who know that " with his stripes we are healed," can understand how a spiritual force emanates from the cross as gravitation from a central sun. Man's nature is such as to be affected by the exhibition on Christ's part of love stronger than death, of compassion worthy of a God. That the sacrifice of our Redeemer had its bearing upon the government of God-this is clearly taught in Scripture. But here our Lord le.ys stress upon its bearing upon the heart of man, upon human society and human prospects. IV. WHITHER DOES TBE CRUCIFIED ONE DBAWTBOSEWBOM ms INFLUENCE AFFECTS? The suffering, the glorified Redeemer draws men away from sinful affections and sinful cou!'BeS; he draws them unto safety, peace, and life. But it is observable that Christ declares hie purpose to draw them "unto himself," i.e. to enjoy his fellowship, to parti- cipate in his character. A personal power draws men to a personal Saviour, Friend, and Lord. Men are drawn by the cross, not to Christianity, but to Christ. V. WHAT IS TBE ll.A.NGE OF TBIB ATTRACTION? Jesus is a universal Saviour. He proposes and promises to draw aJ,l, men unto himself. The firstfruits of this harvest were yielded whilst he still hung upon the tree. The conversion of the dying male- factor, the enlightenment of the centurion, were an earnest of greater victories. It was the intention of Christ to save friends and foes, Jews e.nd Gentiles. And the facts of history are a proof of the extent to which this intention has already been fulfilled. The idolater has forsaken his" gods many;" the Jewish rabbi has abandoned confidence in the "letter," e.nd has learned to rejoice in" the Spirit;" the philosopher has found the wisdom of God better than the wisdom of this world. Human beings of all grades have felt e.nd yielded to tbe Divine attraction of the cross. The young anll the old, the 1irofil,,,oate and the ascetic, the tempted, the aged, and the dying, are day by day being drawn unto the heart of Immanuel. 'fhe marvels of Pentecost were an omen of a new life for all nations of mankind. 'l'he apostles themselves witnessed enough to convince them of the truth of their :Master's words, the depth of their Master's insight, the vastness of their :Master's prophetic view. Looking back, and looking around, we learn to look forward with an inspiring confidence to the realization of a promise so benevo- lent and so glorious as this from the lips of him who was about to die.-T. Ver. M.-The Son of man. Perplexity and inquiry mingle in this question which the Jews were prompted to put, when they heard the language in which Jesus claimed authority in bis death to gather mankind around himself. 1. THE DESIGNAT!Olll' .APPLIED TO JESUS. The expression," Son of man," was familiar to the Jews. 1. In the Old Testament it was used as equivalent to "man." It io applied in the Book of Ezekiel to t_ha~ prop~et him~elf, i_n a1?<>~t eighty passage~. There is one passage in the Book of Daniel m which the Messiah 1s 10troduced as "hke a Son of man." 2. In the New Testament the expression occurs eighty-two times, and in almost all instances it is used by Jesus of himself. It is found in all four Gospels. Here only in the Gospels is it used by others of our Lord, and as if it _were desired ~o undllrstand the full meaning of the phrase. Blephen, when threatened with the mariyr • ea, xn. 1-60.) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. lfl1