John 12:30-33 "Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." This He said, signifying by what death He would die."
This verse has always been taught that if we would lift up Jesus, He would draw all people to Himself. But the word peoples is italicized. This means it was not in the original language but added by the translators in an attempt to show what they thought it meant. Verse 31 shows that Jesus was speaking about judgment. Verse 33 shows that Jesus was speaking about His crucifixion on the cross. That is what He meant by being lifted up. When we remove the word peoples and read it again in context, it reads like this: "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth (crucified), will draw all to Myself." What was He drawing to Himself on the cross? The judgment of God for our sins. He drew all of the judgment of God for our sins upon Himself. If He took our judgment, there is no judgment left for us! Praise God.
John 12:44-48 "Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light (grace and truth) into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness (judgment and condemnation). And if anyone hears My words (words of grace and truth) and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words (words of grace and truth), has that which judges him--the word (grace and truth) that I have spoken will judge him in the last day."
Jesus did not come to judge us. He came to judge the ruler of the world, Satan, and to cast him out. Jesus said if anyone hears My words (the gospel or word of grace) and does not believe, He will not judge him. How kind is our Lord! I want to emulate Jesus and not condemn others, even if they do not believe and accept the gospel when I share it with them. The word of grace or the word of righteousness will judge him in the last day. I am not the judge and do not want to be. May God help us to purify our hearts heart in this area.
Keith Oliver
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