"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die." (John 12:32,33) Geography teaches us that the higher you climb, the cooler it becomes. Physics explains this to be a function of the inverse relationship between pressure and temperature. As you go higher in the earth's altitude, the atmospheric pressure rises leading to a corresponding drop in temperature. Socially, the more prominent you are, the smaller your social circle compared to the number of persons who know you. The higher you get in life, the more the eyes on you. The higher you go, the greater the number of people looking up to you. It is always said that It is lonely at the top", yet we must always aspire for the top! Jesus knew that He was destined for the top. He has spent His entire life getting ready for this great lifting. Jesus knew exactly what was about to happen to Him. He knew exactly how He was going to die. He knew exactly how many strokes of the cane Pilate would order Him to be flogged. He knew how many insulting words He would receive. He knew how painful each drive of the nail down His wrist and foot would be. He has relived the gory moment many times in His mind. Yet, He did it willingly sacrificing His life in that ultimate lifting: the lifting unto the cross..
As He hung there He said, it is finished. It was only many many years down the line that Paul confirmed that while Jesus was dying on the cross, He was doing this in expectance of the joy set before Him (Heb 12:2). The process may be painful. The sacrifice may seem unbearable, but the reward is great. we must realise that no process of upliftment is enjoyable. The sacrifices, pains, self-denial undertaken to make a mark in this world is usually very unpleasant. But if we must be lifted, if we must make a mark in this world, we must learn to look past the pain; and look unto Jesus. We must immitate Jesus. We must aspire to be lifted up that we may draw all men to God