The Omaha guide., 1947-03-01
JESUS SUMS UP HIS CLAIMS

LESSON TEXT-John 12:12-l6. 20-32.
MEMORY SELECTION-And l. II
be lifted up from the earth. will draw all
men unto me.-John 1882.
The last week of our Lords min
istry on earth comes before us to-
day as we consider two events-one
Of which occurred on Sunday and
the Gther on Tuesday. One sees here
the attitude Of men toward Christ.
Of God toward men. Of the Father
toward the Son, and the majestic
drawing power Of the Saviour.
L. Believing Men Honor Christ
wv. 1910.
God says. Him that offereth
praise glorifeth me" Cps. 50:23).
and the believer recognizes that
praise is comely for the upright"
Cps. 33:1). Jesus is entirely worthy
Of the praise of every heart and
voice.
Presenting himself as their Mes
siah, Jesus received the enthusiastic
acclaim of his disciples and friends.
who yer probably joined by others
drawn by the excitement.
The Pharisees did not join in tsee
Luke 1899. 400. nor did the city. not
even knowing who he was Matt
21:10, III. So ii is today; some
love and praise him. some hate him.
others Just ignore him. OF which
class r. you?
He gave Jerusalem and the ma
ton a final opportunity to receive
him. 1t was not yet too late. but 1t
was their last chance. Such a time
comes in the life Of every M Of us.
They rejected him. Do we?
But even though some did reject.
let us not forget that there were
those who shouted, "Hosanna"; who
cast their garments down before him
and waved palms Of victory and joy.
Thank God for their holy enthusi-
asm. Pray God that we may have
4 little more of it.
III. God Honors Men Who Serve
Christ (vv. 1920.
It is good to note that whatever
prompted the coming Of the Greeks,
they wanted to see Jesus.
A man has progressed far on the
road to blessing when he makes
known his desire to see Jesus. Com
Ing to him means coming to the
One who has the words Of eternal
Hs-
Note that the disciples we're wise
enough to bring the men to Jesus.
The true function Of every Christian
worker is to bring men to him.
The reply of our Lord to the
Greeks, and to the disciples who
brought them to him. seems a bit
singular at first glance. Did he not
wish to receive them? They had
probably come to see the great re-
ligious leader. the King of the Jews
why did he tall about death?
The words of our Lord are clear.
Men do not need an example. a lead
er. a teacher; they need a Saviour.
1t is as a sacrifice for sin that Christ
will draw all men unto himself.
iii. The Father Giorifes the Son
wv. 27-3O).
The awful blackness of the bur-
den of the worlds sins which he was
to bear pressed down upon our Lord
in ar agony of soul beyond our
ability to understand. But even his
troubled soul did not turn from the
hour Of death for US.
The question Of verse q is essen
tally this: Should I ask the Father
to deliver me from this hour? No,
| came to be mans Saviour" He
did not look away. nor wish to urn
back. He knew why he had come,
and he was faithful even to death
(Phil. 2:8; Heb. 2:9).
He had only n desire-that the
name of God the Father should be
glorified ". 28). Do We who bear
his holy name follow in his foot
steps? Do we have an eye single
to his glory-or do we seek our own?
Then came the voice from heaven;
the Father had gloriied his own
name in the Son. and would do il
again-yes. again and again.
Jesus knew the Father would do
it, he did not need any assurance
". 300, but for the sake Of the peo-
pie the witness was given. Notice
the reaction of the listeners-some
recognized that a heavenly mes.
sage had been given: others had only
heard some thunder.
May God give US grace to hear
his voice when he speaks, and not
consider it merely the rolling Of
some deep voice of thunder!
Nv. The Son Draws All Men 70
Himself tvv. 81. 32).
Because Christ was lifted I'D or
the cross and died, there is victory
over sin and death, declared by hi.
resurrection and ascension to the
Father.
Satan is still at liberty in the
world, but he is defeated John Is.
III. Death still comes. but the stinf
is gone for the Christian Il Cor. Is.
55-5D. The world is still fghtin,
our Lord. but he is drawing men t.
himself here and there Throughout
the world.
One day he will come as King O
kings and Lord Of lords. to declar.
In its inality the victory which ha,
already been won.
We should be reminded anew tina
It is Christ the Saviour who vii
draw men il we will only exalt hin
In our preaching and teaching. LIE
- l. 34f