April 14 THE UPLIFTED SAVIOUR "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself " (John 12:32, NIV). Three times during His earthly ministry, Jesus portrayed Himself as the uplifted Saviour. In so doing, He drew a parallel between the cross on which He would be lifted up at His crucifixion and the uplifted brazen serpent in the wilderness (see Numbers 21:6-9). In His interview with Nicodemus, Jesus stated, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life" (John 3:14, 15, NIV). As with the uplifted brazen serpent, so it is with the uplifted Christ. Only those who gazed earnestly through the eyes of faith upon the uplifted serpent were miraculously healed. Similarly all who by faith look to the crucified Redeemer will be healed from the deadly virus of sin. The uplifted Saviour is the salvation magnet of the world. Christ uplifted on the cross is the center of attraction. It is the powerful magnetism of the cross and the inexpressible love of God displayed on it that draws the sinner to Christ. Even those whose knowledge of the cross is limited are affected by the uplifted Redeemer. The universal message of the uplifted Saviour is that salvation is a one-way street to Calvary. The one and only way to salvation is by looking in faith to the uplifted Christ. Those who look by faith at the crucified, uplifted Christ are not only healed from the deadly virus of sin, but they have eternal life (see John 3:15). Yes, there's life in a look at the sacred cross! Ellen White exclaimed, "Lift Him up, the Man of Calvary, higher and still higher. There is power in the exaltation of the cross of Christ."--Letter 65, 1905. My Prayer Today: Lord, drawn by the uplifted Saviour, I come for healing and salvation. Amen.