God's Lightning Rod
By Arthur J Licursi
The Apostle Paul here below establishes the center, core and focus of the Bible as being "Christ and Him crucified"!
23 We preach Christ and Him crucified... 1 Corinthians 1:23
2 For I (Paul) determined not to know any thing among you, save (except) Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2
We know Jesus came principally to be "the Lamb of God." He came to be lifted up and die upon the cross, in order to redeem and justify all who would believe, and also to make "the power" of the Devilish fallen "sin in the flesh" (Rom 8:3) of man "of not effect."
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy (Gk., kartargeo, make of no effect) him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Hebrews 2:14
The Devil himself is not yet "destroyed," yet he will one day soon be "cast into the lake of fire" (Rev 20:10). We thank God that "the power of death" has been negated by Christ's resurrection and the dispensing of His "Spirit of life" (Rom 8:2a) into the human spirit every believer (1Cor 6:17).
Below we note a great mistranslation that moves the focus of the cross from "Christ and Him crucified" to "men." The word, "men," in John 12:32, here below. was erroneously inserted by the translators, thus it is shown to be italicized in the Kings James Bible.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32 (KJV, exactly)
The translators added in, the word "men" as evidenced by the fact that they knew enough to italicize it in the KJV. Many Bibles insert the word "men" but omit italicizing, thus misleading and misdirecting their readers.
How can we say the word "men" inserted in the KJV text is incorrect?
It is clearly incorrect as evidenced by the context of the Scriptures surrounding John 12:32. Read John 12:23-36 and note the context. The focus of the text will be immediately apparent - it is Christ "lifted up" on the cross to endure God's judgment and wrath intended for us as sinners.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and DIE, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:23-24
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world (the Devil) be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. 34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.... John 12:27-36a (KJV)
What is Jesus speaking about in this section of Scripture?
He is speaking of "the hour" of His soon coming death on the cross (verse 23-24 above). He was to die, receiving and bearing the just wrath of God in judgment of the sins of the world of all mankind.
Verses 27-36 are a continuation of verses 23-24. These verses again make it clear that Jesus is speaking about "the hour" of His soon coming death. (v27). In verses 23-24 (above) Jesus likens Himself to "a corn (grain) of wheat" that must die and go into the ground (be buried in the earth) in order to bring forth "much fruit" or "many more grains." Jesus had to 1st die in order that His resurrection life would come forth and become multiplied in every believer that receives Him. Clearly the focus is upon His death via the cross upon which He is "lifted" as Step #1 in the process of His eternal plan and purpose.
Jesus also interpreted His own words when His disciples asked "how sayest thou, The Son of man must be 'Lifted Up?" Jesus said He, whose life is also called "the light of the world," was to be snuffed out for a time (v35).
Jesus' death on the cross is the substitutionary sacrificial offering for our sins; bearing God's judgment and wrath upon Him...for us.
Earlier in the text, just before verse 32, we note these words of Jesus. "31 Now is the judgment of this world (for sin): now shall the prince of this world (the Devil) be cast out."
Satan, as "the prince of this world," was to become "cast out" of power by Christ being "lifted up" and dying on the cross on behalf of all men.
Before the cross Satan had "the power of death" (Heb 2:14) and of the eternal separation of men from God. All men were without hope. Only Christ's death would bridge the gulf between sinful man and the Holy God.
Thankfully, ALL the sin of ALL men was poured into the physical flesh body of Jesus Christ when He drank of "the cup" of our sin in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:39). Then Jesus' sin-laden body was taken to be "lifted up" on the cross, to bear God's judgment and wrath for us.
22 Yet now has [CHRIST] RECONCILED [YOU TO GOD] IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence. Colossians 1:22 (AMP)
21 For HE (GOD THE FATHER) HATH MADE HIM (JESUS) TO BE SIN FOR US, who knew no sin; (so) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
Thus. every genuine Christian looks to "the cross" because it was there that Jesus bore ALL our sins in the flesh body of His humiliation, as the just judgment and punishment of "death" that was due to us.
6 ... the Lord hath laid on him (Christ) the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6b.
Jesus took our sins upon Himself. We can say the body of Jesus became as a lightning rod "to draw" or attract all God's judgment and the wrath upon Himself, that we as sinners could be counted cleansed and righteous before God for eternity. We thus stand holy and just.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be (would be counted) holy and without blame before him in (His) love: Ephesians 1:3-4
Thus, to be in accord with the context of the verses that surround verse 32, I suggest that we can better modify the verse 32 by inserting a more proper word, if we must at all. I propose that verse 32 might better appear as follows.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all JUDGMENT unto me. John 12:32.
