The Wrong Will Fail, The Right Prevail - Your Daily Forward Devotional

The Wrong Will Fail, The Right Prevail

Download the Transcript of Today's Podcast

Read John 12:31-34 (ESV)

“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

Reflect

According to verse 31 and 32, what three things will Jesus’ death bring about?

Why did God put on flesh and dwell among us? Why did Jesus leave the glory of His throne in heaven and come down to our fallen, sinful level? Well, Jesus came to earth to die for us. It was His mission and His purpose.

But what was the point of His death? What would it accomplish? In today’s verses, we have our answer. Jesus told us that His death was going to usher in three specific things. First, it accomplished the judgment of this world. Sometimes, it seems as if evil is winning the battle. It had to have seemed that way to many when Jesus, their only hope, died on the cross. But Jesus assured everyone listening that sin and evil are being dealt with. We can take comfort in knowing that at the end of the day, wrong does not win. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “The wrong shall fail, the right prevail” (I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day). Wickedness will not go unpunished and it is not unnoticed by God.

Second, the author and originator of sin is going to be dealt with once and for all. Remember back in Genesis 3:15 when we see the first prophecy of Christ? “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Jesus’ death is the bruised heel moment when it seems as if Satan has defeated the Messiah. But in reality, Jesus is about to crush Satan’s head with a fatal blow: “that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil…” (Hebrews 2:14).

Jesus’ death on the cross was the beginning of the end for Satan and his evil world system. Right now, Satan is still active, seeking to deceive and destroy people. But his days are numbered. He may still be fighting but the battle has already been won. The battle is the Lord’s and He wins.

Third, Jesus said that “when He is lifted up from the earth” He will draw all people to Himself. This isn’t the first time that Jesus told us that He would be “lifted up.” In John 3:14-15 Jesus said: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” When Jesus spoke of being “lifted up,” He was telling them how He was going to die. He was going to be lifted up onto a cross. He was going to be crucified. Now, Jesus is saying that His crucifixion is going to “draw all people to himself.”

It is important to point out though, that this doesn’t mean that all people are going to be saved. Everyone has free will to accept or reject Christ. But, Christ's death on the cross does show everyone that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  In John 8:28, Jesus said: “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he….” When Jesus was crucified and rose again, the truth became very evident—Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, sent from God the Father, just as He had said.

But Jesus doesn’t force salvation upon anyone. He said that He draws them to Himself. If you are a believer, praise God for His gift of salvation and for His justice. He will save those who are His but He will judge the wicked and cast out the devil. If you have never placed your faith in Christ, why not? Is He drawing you closer to Him? If so, don’t resist Him. Salvation is found in no one else (Acts 4:12).

Respond

Lord, thank You for laying down Your life so that You could be lifted up on the cross to suffer and die in the place of sinners, like me. Thank You for drawing me to Yourself so that I can be saved. And thank You for the comfort that I find in knowing that “the wrong will fail, the right prevail” because You will execute perfect and complete justice. Amen.

Reveal: Think about unbelieving family and friends. Pray for them right now—that God would reveal Himself to them and draw them to Himself.

~ Pastor Nat Crawford