TOPIC:‌“The Summons of the Savior”

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌John 12:32

 

‌‌“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

 

‌The incident which calls our attention is strikingly presented by John the Evangelist, and since it is only recorded by him, it demands our solemn investigation.

 

‌The Master had previously traveled through Bethany as indicated in John 12:1. He had already made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem as we read in verses 12 through 16 of this chapter. And now, being extremely conscious of what was going to happen to Him, a vile and vicious death, we find our Lord trying to make an everlasting impression upon the minds of His disciples. He wants them never to forget what was going to happen to them.

 

‌This impression that Christ so greatly desired to make upon them was in the figure and form of a cross. It was the picture of His death that He wanted to be immortal in the soul of every man. For Christ knew, though they did not, that the cross was the only path leading to resurrection and future life.

 

‌So Christ revealed Himself to His disciples as the uplifted Savior, the dying Son of God, the atoning Sacrifice for sin. And most of us know what happened to those early followers of Christ. With such a message ringing in their ears, they went everywhere telling the good news of the Gospel. To put it in the words of Luke: “They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:14). And this crusade for their risen Lord cost them their lives. Not one of those chosen by Christ to follow Him escaped from the cost of that commitment.

 

O friend of mine, the same love that compelled Christ to give up His life for us, the same devotion that caused a company of disciples to lay down their lives for Him, is the same love that summons each one of us to serve Christ untiringly and unconditionally. I ask you, Will you be one of those who responds to the summons of the Savior? I trust you will!

 

I.

 

‌Let me suggest, first of all, the summons of the Savior is to LOST SINNERS. Remember, it was Christ Himself who proclaimed: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10). Or again where Christ stated: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”(Luke 5:32). God is calling sinners to Himself by means of the cross.

 

‌Now carry this thought over into the words of verse 32: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto . . .