{"id":24971,"date":"2025-05-16T05:07:37","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T05:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/?p=24971"},"modified":"2025-05-16T05:07:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T05:07:37","slug":"sinners-drawn-to-the-lifted-up-saviour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/2025\/05\/sinners-drawn-to-the-lifted-up-saviour\/","title":{"rendered":"Sinners Drawn To The Lifted Up Saviour"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Posted by permission. Chippenham Old Baptist Chapel<\/a>.]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prayer Meeting Address given at Old Baptist Chapel, Chippenham by Mr. G. D. Buss<\/b> on Wednesday Evening, 13th May, 2020<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/i>\u2014John 12:32<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

There is something very precious about the Lord Jesus Christ preaching His own gospel. Every page of Scripture is divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit and there is a sacred equality on every page. Yet, there is something very sweet when we hear the dear Preacher of preachers preaching His own gospel. For while we who are called to preach, may preach about One who is not ourselves, He preaches of Himself. How preciously does He preach of Himself in this word before us this evening! \u201c<\/i>And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

You will notice in the previous verse He speaks of what will be accomplished by the lifting up of Himself from the earth. \u201cNow is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.\u201d In other words, the only answer to Satan, sin, the world and all the fruits of the Fall, to be declared before men is the cross of Christ. That is what Paul meant when he said: \u201cFor I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.\u201d When men are born on the face of this earth, the prince of this world has dominion in their dark hearts. The god of this world blinds their minds. Unbelief shuts them in. They live in a darkness of which they are not aware and which is the very fruit of the prince of darkness in their heart and life.<\/p>\n

But, blessed be God, this One of whom our text speaks this evening has that power to cast out the prince of this world. I know not; there may be one listening this evening, and this is just what you feel to need: the casting out of the prince of this world. You know your wretched heart. You know the dominion Satan seems to exercise therein. You know your fallen nature and your carnal mind is at enmity against God and godliness. You would not have it so. You would be free from it. But the more you struggle and strive, and vow and resolve, the more helpless you seem to become. Friends, here is the answer. This is how the prince of this world will be cast out of your soul:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I,\u201d this blessed Jesus says: \u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d In that chapter we read (a chapter rarely read, Isaiah 11), it spoke of an ensign. An ensign was a banner lifted up in the time of war to which the soldiers would rally round when they went out to fight. And here is the ensign lifted up, against the prince of this world, both in the hearts of God\u2019s people and in their lives. This must be our banner; this must be the ensign under which we gather: the cross of Christ. \u201c<\/i>And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is very wonderful to notice how in the Song of Solomon the Church prays for the very thing that Christ promises. \u201cDraw me, we will run after Thee.\u201d It is that precious drawing power of the Holy Spirit, sent forth because of the cross of Christ. It is the fruit of the cross of Christ in the Church of Christ that draws sinners to Himself. \u201cDraw me, we will run after Thee.\u201d We need a power outside of ourselves to free us from the prince of this world and the darkness of unbelief, rebellion, self-righteousness and all that sinful independence there is in us. Nothing less than the drawing power in our text will accomplish it. But it will <\/i>accomplish it wherever it is put forth by the sovereign power of God. \u201c<\/i>And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, our text has an \u2018if\u2019 in it. It is not an uncertain \u2018if.\u2019 It is not a \u2018maybe,\u2019 not a \u2018perhaps,\u2019 or even a \u2018probable.\u2019 There is no uncertainty whatsoever. In the very next verse, we read: \u201cThis He said, signifying what death He should die.\u201d In other words, He was not, in any way, putting a doubt over whether He would be lifted up. But the great point is twofold: this was to be a sign that He was indeed and is indeed the anointed One; the One who came to save His people from their sins. This was to be the proof of it. He would be lifted up. Secondly, and what a vital point this is; we need Him lifted up in our hearts if we are to be drawn. That is where we need Him lifted up. Above the prince of the power of the air, above the prince of this world, above our poor carnal mind and natural man! Oh, when the Holy Spirit plants this blessed ensign in the hearts of poor sinners, this is the effect: it draws!<\/p>\n

Now, we must be very careful as some may stumble because they know there is so much in them that will not be drawn and does not desire to be drawn. The carnal mind and the natural man will never be drawn. The Word of God plainly says it is so. But our text is like a spiritual magnet. You will know that a magnet only draws certain things towards itself. And where the Holy Spirit has implanted grace; where He has put the new nature, there is a drawing. There is a power felt as this precious Christ is set forth in the heart before this sinner. There is something in him now, which looks to this blessed provision and would seek grace to run to the Refuge provided. Even the dying thief, in his last moments, was drawn to that dear Saviour. \u201c<\/i>And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d Of course, this does not mean universal salvation; we know that only too well. We know from our own experience that unless God\u2019s sovereign hand had been put forth, none of us would ever have been drawn. And we know by looking around this dying world, especially in our generation, how few there are that are drawn. What a wonderful thing if God has singled us out that we may be drawn! How the good hymnwriter sets if forth:<\/p>\n

\u201cDraw my soul to Thee, my Lord;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Make me love Thy precious Word!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bid me seek Thy smiling face;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Willing to be saved by grace.<\/p>\n

Dearest Jesus, bid me come;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let me find Thyself my home;<\/p>\n

Thou the Refuge of my soul,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where I may my troubles roll.<\/p>\n

Lord, Thy powerful work begun,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thou wilt never leave undone;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Teach me to confide in Thee;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thy salvation\u2019s wholly free.\u201d<\/p>\n

And, dear friends, this is the second time in His earthly ministry that the dear Saviour uses this type. Speaking to Nicodemus He said: \u201cAnd as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.\u201d What an expectation there is there! Poor sinner, Solomon says: \u201cLet not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.\u201d Those who are looking to this precious Christ, their expectation will \u201cnot be cut off.\u201d God has promised it. He says it here. \u2018I will draw such unto Me.\u2019 \u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are two \u2018I\u2019s\u2019 in our text that are but one. They speak of one glorious Person: Emmanuel. It speaks of two natures. There is that nature He had from all eternity: His divinity, His Godhead, His union with His heavenly Father and His equality in the Trinity. He is truly God: God the Son with God the Father and with God the Holy Ghost. It is God the Son who is speaking here as the Son of God. Here is His power. If He were but a man, and we say that most reverently; then He would not be able to draw in the way our text speaks. Divinity is stamped upon our text. It is the hand of God put forth: a precious Saviour stretching out His loving arm to pluck sinners as a brand from the burning. It is He who is saying it; the Son of God is saying it. \u201c<\/i>And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

But also, it is the Son of man who is saying it. It is man that died in the Fall. It is man who was lost and ruined when Adam fell. It is man that is under the curse and condemnation of a broken law. It is man who is in danger of eternal misery and eternal perdition. It must be One who understands the case of man. Sinless, yet for sin He bled. Holy, yet for the unholy He suffered, wept and groaned in Gethsemane, in the Judgment hall and at Calvary. Here He says: \u201c<\/i>And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, the great type is to be found in the wilderness. You will remember when the children of Israel got into a bad spirit. And God\u2019s people, left to themselves, are just like that. That word I quoted from the Proverbs just now, how true it is: \u201cLet not thine heart envy sinners.\u201d They got into an envying spirit; envying the world and thinking they were hard done by. But Solomon said: Let not thine heart envy sinners.\u201d \u201cFor surely there is an end.\u201d There is something better to be looking for than what sinners are looking for. There is a better objective in life than following this dying world. \u201cThere is an end.\u201d There is something to be looked for, watched for, waited for, prayed for and to come to. \u201cThine expectation shall not be cut off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, dear friends, what was their expectation? First of all, they came into a time of great need. They wanted to take a short cut across Edom, but the Lord would not let them. It was a circuitous route. To them it seemed unnecessary; even unjust and unkind. And you might think your path is like that tonight. But just remember:<\/p>\n

\u201cHow bitter that cup, no heart can conceive,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Which He drank quite up that sinners might live!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His way was much rougher and darker than mine;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Did Christ, my Lord, suffer, and shall I repine?\u201d<\/p>\n

J. Newton<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

Poor sinner do not envy those around you. Do not bemoan your state as if it is harder than others. Look unto Jesus! Look unto this One who hung on Calvary\u2019s cross, who sets before us with His own, blessed lips His own cross and His own sufferings this night. \u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, God sent fiery serpents to reprove them for their envying of sinners and envying of better paths. He sent those serpents to bite them. Many died. Alas, dear friends, they realised the reason for the serpents. It took them some while. And it would be a great mercy if this nation realised the reason that this virus has been sent, and also the denomination, the Churches and us personally. As it was mentioned in prayer, there is a voice in it. A solemn voice! It is a call to repentance. It is a call to leave the hateful ways of sin. It is a call for more prayer, more exercise and more wrestling. It is a call for more fellowship; a closer walk. It is a call. When will we hear it? When will we obey the voice of the rod?<\/p>\n

It was some time before the children of Israel obeyed. But, at last they realised whence it came. They cried to Moses, and Moses cried to the Lord. Was there a remedy for this rebellious people? The serpent bites were bringing so much death. Was there any answer to it? Oh, God\u2019s methods are strange, aren\u2019t they? Mysterious! \u2018Moses, you are to make a brasen serpent like those that bite the children of Israel. You are to lift it up, like an ensign in their midst. And I give them an expectation; a promise concerning it. That is that those who are bitten need only to look, and they shall live.\u2019 There was no power in the brasen serpent on its own. It was only brass. But, it was what God said to those who looked to God\u2019s way of salvation. To those who were unbitten, perhaps it was an item of curiosity. It did not mean anything to them. It was for those who were bitten, those who were dying those who would die, unless they looked. They were the ones who valued it. They were the ones who would look toward it. It does not say they had to be right up close. Some were closer than others. They had to look toward it. And, as many as looked, lived. The Lord Jesus Christ said: \u2018This is a type of Myself. I am that brasen serpent.\u2019 What? The dear holy, harmless, undefiled Son of God likened to a brasen serpent? It was the serpent that brought evil into this world! The serpent is the prince of this world, in the deepest sense. Then why, oh why does our dear Saviour liken Himself to a serpent? It is only as we read in that deep, deep word which I have mentioned many times. \u201cFor He\u201d \u2013 that is God the Father \u2013 \u201chath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.\u201d A deep, deep work! He retained His integrity, His holiness, His harmlessness and His purity throughout His sufferings. Yet, dear friends, He was made a curse. The Word of God says so. He felt the wrath of offended justice; the curse that the prince of this world wrought against the Church. He bore it for them. \u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLifted up was He to die;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is finished\u201d was His cry;<\/p>\n

Now in heaven exalted high:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d Here is a wonderful promise. His languid eye looks, as it were, from the cross. Of course, He is now in glory, but just for a moment think of the cross. His languid eye looks at the dear dying thief who looked upon Him in faith. The dear Saviour said: \u201cTo day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.\u201d That drawn one was drawn into the arms of the dying Saviour and was safe \u2013 eternally safe. \u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friends, it is unique, isn\u2019t it? It is not to look to a minister. It is not even to look to an apostle. No. It is to look to Christ, to Him and Him alone. As Peter said: \u201cTo whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.\u201d If you are a sin-bitten sinner tonight, we all are in one sense, but how few feel it; but if you feel the bites of sin, if you feel the guilt on your conscience, if you feel the curse of God\u2019s law against you and you hear the loud thunders in your soul, then what does the Lord say to you tonight? Wait until you are better?<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you tarry till you\u2019re better,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You will never come at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not the righteous,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sinners Jesus came to call.\u201d<\/p>\n

P. Bliss<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

What a wonderful mercy it is for old sinners as well as young sinners! I am sure that among the bitten Israelites there were those who were young, middle aged and no doubt some who were older. It did not matter what their age was, the great point was they were to look. And as many as looked, lived. It was a look of faith, because the Lord had given a promise concerning those who looked. They rested on the promise God had given. Whoever looked on that brasen serpent would be healed from the bite.<\/p>\n

I have never noticed until quite recently how that the Lord did not take the serpents away immediately. We do not know how long they were with them; perhaps throughout the rest of their journey. But the brasen serpent was there, lifted up. So dear friends, those of us who have tasted that God is gracious, we have proved a little, I trust, of the power of cross and to be drawn unto Christ. But we get bitten again, don\u2019t we? We are yet in the flesh. The prince of this world is not silent. What are we to do? Jonah tells you: \u201cYet I will look again.\u201d Look again, poor sinner. The Lord will not rebuke you for so doing. Where else can you go? As oft as you are sin-bitten, look to the One of whom we sometimes sing:<\/p>\n

\u201cSee the Lord of glory dying!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

See Him gasping!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hear Him crying!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

See His burdened bosom heave!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Look, ye sinners, ye that hung Him;<\/p>\n

Look how deep your sins have stung Him;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dying sinners, look and live.\u201d<\/p>\n

J. Hart<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

It is your sins that have stung Him. What a sting that must have been in His holy Person \u2013 to feel the guilt of His Church imputed to Him to bear away! \u201cBehold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.\u201d Friend, this blessed word is an answer to all the things that would distract and disturb our poor minds. There are many things in providence as well as in grace that disturb our poor minds. What is the answer? It is this blessed, lifted up Jesus. He is lifted up now in glory above at the right hand of His Father, but still bearing in His body the marks of His lifting up on earth.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Graved on His hands divinely fair,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who did their ransom pay,<\/p>\n

The golden letters still appear;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He hates to put away.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is an expectation that will \u201cnot be cut off.\u201d This is a good hope through grace. This is the answer to that beautiful word in Isaiah 45: \u201cLook unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.\u201d Sin puts us at a distance. The greater sinner we feel to be the greater distance we feel to be from the Lord, until we become an \u2018ends of the earth\u2019 sinner; beyond all human help, human reach and self-help. But, the Lord says: \u201cLook.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook from the borders of the pit\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To My recovering grace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Look to My obedience. Look to My righteousness. Look to My precious blood that has been shed. Look to My life that has been laid down.\u2019 And look to this precious promise that you may plead before the throne of grace tonight. You may plead it, poor sinner. He says: \u201cI…will draw all men unto Me.\u201d Then, take the prayer of the Church that we mentioned: \u201cDraw me, we will run after Thee.\u201d \u2018Lord, leave me not undrawn. Leave me not unmoved. Let me not sit under the sound of the truth or even preach the sound of the truth without being drawn. Let it not have no effect.\u2019 Oh, may we be drawn!<\/p>\n

\u201cDraw my soul to Thee, my Lord;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Make me love Thy precious Word!<\/p>\n

Bid me seek Thy smiling face;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Willing to be saved by grace.\u201d<\/p>\n

He says: \u201cThy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power.\u201d That is our text, isn\u2019t it? \u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those sin-bitten Israelites had eyes for none other than the brasen serpent. They could not look to mother, father, husband, wife, Moses or Aaron. No. It was one object to their faith. And that should be so tonight, dear friend. One object of our faith: \u201cJesus Christ, and Him crucified.\u201d There is life in this work; blessed life. The Church lives because of what Christ says here. We live because of His dying. May we know it again tonight. \u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d They are drawn in faith. They are drawn in prayer. They are drawn in their affections. They run and they hasten to a precious Christ.<\/p>\n

We know that when Moses had that wonderful view of the Lord in Mount Sinai, we read that he ran. He ran and fell, as it were, at the feet of the God who was revealing Himself to him. We sang in our opening hymn of those who ran naked to Jesus. May you be a running soul, tonight. As one mentioned in prayer, we do not know how much longer our little life may be. Eternity may be at the door for any one of us. But are you looking to this precious Saviour? He says: \u201cLook unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.\u201d He has joined the look to the living. He has joined the look to salvation. \u201cLook unto me.\u201d He has joined to that: \u201cand be ye saved.\u201d In the wilderness it was: \u201cLook.\u201d And He has joined the looking to living. Friend, there it is. We cannot live any other way. \u201cAnd as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.\u201d<\/p>\n

And friends, He was lifted up for love\u2019s sake. Love held Him to the cross until the debt was paid and cleared. I heard only the other day of an instance that often took place in the Roman Empire. When a Roman prisoner was put in prison, his crimes were listed and nailed to the doorpost. When his sentence had ended, they would write \u2018finished\u2019 across the indictment, so he could go free. Well, all the indictment of the Church came to the dear, lifted up Saviour. And when He had paid the price; when He had cleared the debt, He wrote: \u201cIt is finished.\u201d Then He gave up the ghost. Blessed be God for a Saviour who has finished the work. With Him \u201call things are possible.\u201d Blessed be God. \u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d May God add His blessing.<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

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There is something very precious about the Lord Jesus Christ preaching His own gospel. Every page of Scripture is divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit and there is a sacred equality on every page. Yet, there is something very sweet when we hear the dear Preacher of preachers preaching His own gospel. For while we who are called to preach, may preach about One who is not ourselves, He preaches of Himself. How preciously does He preach of Himself in this word before us this evening! \u201cAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":480,"featured_media":22558,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1728],"tags":[1230],"class_list":["post-24971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gerald-buss","tag-redemption"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/480"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24971"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24973,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24971\/revisions\/24973"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}