2023_05_24 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Numbers 11, John 3, Numbers 14, John 6
As a new follower of Jesus, I was hungry and eager to learn about the new life I was given. I went to all sorts of Bible studies but didn’t start attending church for several months because I assumed all churches were like the ones I grew up with – boring and unrelatable to my life. Fortunately, I gave church another try, and I loved it! But before that, at the Bible study groups, there was always singing, and the songs were all new to me, but I assumed they all reflected truth and had been chosen by people who knew the Bible well. What I found out was that most did, but some did not. When I read John chapter 3, I discovered how one song was off base. The song was called Lift Jesus Higher, and it when like this: Lift Jesus higher, lift Jesus higher. Lift Him up for the world to see. He said if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me. In this song, the writer seems to be quoting from John 3 and John 12, but here is what we see in these passages:
“And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.” John 3:14–15 (NLT)
“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.” John 12:32–33 (NLT)
In these passages, Jesus being “lifted up” refers to His crucifixion, when He voluntarily sacrificed His life for our sin. The song misses this and imagines lift to mean “remember and talk about it to others.” The sentiment is fine, but the meaning of the passage gets obscured and lost. When we read and study the Bible, we need to be careful to get the real intended meaning and not superimpose our own feelings and ideas. If we choose to insert our own big ideas, we can get off track quickly. Staying with the true meaning is a protection for us so that we are in line with God’s thinking.
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor