THE LORD AS GATHERING POINT FOR ALL
[p. 370] THE LORD AS GATHERING POINT FOR ALL
Chapters 11 and 12 of John take up what is personally Christ Himself; His own glory, and also the present place of Christ, as in verse 32: “I, if I be lifted up out of the earth will draw all to me”. This refers to Christ as the gathering point at the present time. The question is of Christ “lifted up” and the prince of this world to be cast out.
In this part of the gospel we get Christ presented in three characters. In chapter 11 we have witness to the “Son of God” in giving life to Lazarus. In chapter 12 as “Son of David” — thy King cometh, verses 12 to 16; also as “Son of man” He must be lifted up. There He is: Son of God — life-giving power; Son of David — sure mercies of David; Son of man — over all things as Head.
The previous chapters bring out the fidelity of God. He will have a flock in spite of the perverseness of man. The effect of the death of Christ is that much fruit is being brought forth (the good seed) as in the “corn of wheat”. The “much fruit” is the flock that is being gathered. God will have the children of Israel for a flock hereafter. At the present time every thought of God is centred in the church. It has the place of the “Israel of God”, not in a public way, but spiritually.
Old Testament prophecies are left out for a time. God’s thoughts are taken up with the education of the church, hence the church will come down out of heaven as the holy Jerusalem, having the glory of God and like unto a stone most precious. (Revelation 21: 11.)
The “corn of wheat” (verse 24,) brings out the principle of death. The Lord Jesus could have gone back to glory without dying, but He must die to bring forth much fruit. At present, many sons are being brought to glory. Verse 28, “Father glorify thy name ... I have both glorified it and will glorify it again”. The raising up of Lazarus from the dead is a witness to His glory. In Hebrews 2 we see Jesus crowned with glory and honour, but all things are not yet put under Him. He is not yet displayed. The church is a witness for Christ on the ground of resurrection. It must be so, or everything would not be in accord with Christ risen. Death is swallowed up in victory. Christ in resurrection is a gathering point for all. “I, if I be lifted up ... will draw all to me” is on the ground of redemption, and if drawn to Christ all are gathered unto one. He is the point of attraction. A feeble illustration is the magnet, how it draws the little pieces of steel. Testimony is now being borne to Him and the result is that men are being drawn to Him. All power is in His name.
There are several instances in Scripture in which this thought is expressed. “In his name”, “Through faith in his name”, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow”. Also in the Psalms, “How excellent is thy name in all the earth!” No man on earth is equal to a christian for soundness, that is one who has put off the old man, and put on the new. Peter used the power of His name and we ought to use it, too. In preaching, too much cannot be made of His name; concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. His name is His renown.
When men lifted up the Son of God they thought they had got rid of Him; but not so with God. It was not the purpose of God that He should stay there. The character of testimony at the present time is that people are being brought to Christ; not merely that they should be converted, that is not sufficient, they should be drawn to Christ. The Man lifted up is a rallying point for all.
In the present day God is working out the disentanglement of good and evil. In preaching the speaker must have faith in His name. Peter said, ‘I have neither silver nor gold, but such as I have give I unto thee’, or, I have nothing of this world’s goods, but in the name [p. 372] of Jesus of Nazareth rise up and walk. That was a wonderful scene.
God has given Him a name which is above every name; the name of a glorious Man who is Head over all things. Evil could have no power where His name is in power. The name indicates what God sets forth in a Person. What God set forth in Him, when down here, was “Emmanuel”, that is, “God with us”. He shall save His people from their sins. We have now got the world in the name of Christ, ‘christendom’. It is a very dangerous form. Satan is the god and prince of it. It shews that we should be separate from it. The expression ‘world’ in John is the ordinate system which has pretension to light. There is no reality in the worldly system; it is that in which man is glorified.
The last Adam has gone up into heaven, and the Holy Spirit has come down to bring report of Him. No one is adequate to bear testimony to the Man in heaven but by the Spirit, and nothing can deliver us out of system but the apprehension of the Son of man lifted up as the Head of the vast universe of bliss. This has a very separating effect. The Man lifted up on the cross is the point of attraction. In believing on the Lord Jesus Christ you touch God.