Pilgrims Problems No. 15 Does Jesus Draw All Men — Willie Mullan

We've got a a mighty text for this evening, haven't we? We're in John's gospel and We're at chapter 12, please. Gospel by John and We're at the 12th chapter. Our Lord Jesus is speaking to his father in verse 28.

Jesus’ Promise to Draw All Men Through the Cross

John 12 28 and as he looks up he says father Glorify thy name. Just at that psychological moment there came a voice from heaven saying I Have both glorified it and will glorify it again. The people therefore that stood by and there was a great crowd and heard it Said that it thundered.

Others said an angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said this voice came not because of me But for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world. Now shall the prince of this world be cast out and I if I be lifted up from the earth Will draw all men on to me.

This he said Signifying by what death he should die. And when he talks about being lifted up from the earth He's talking about the cross work of Calvary and He said I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men on to me.

This he said signifying by what death he should die. And of course the argument and the problem down through the Years hath been this word all I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men on to me.

The Unique and Divine Sayings of Jesus

Now let me tell you one or two things about the sayings of the Lord Jesus before we really get into the depths of the text. Because I think that every one of you know this that never man spake. Like this man.

There never was a preacher on this planet like this man. You see everything our Lord Jesus Christ said every statement he made. If you examine it, there's something One to one in it, you see his name was wonderful and his birth was wonderful and his life was wonderful and Every phrase he uttered Was wonderful.

He said some very wonderful thing. And then I wrote a little booklet once on the super sayings of this wonderful preacher. Because he didn't only say wonderful things he Said things that have to be put down as super sayings.

That simply means sayings that nobody else could say. For instance When he was talking about the Holy Spirit the third person of the Trinity He said when I go I will send him on to you. There's nobody in this world could talk like this.

Nobody that ever lived on this planet could say I Will go and and I will send the third person of the Trinity. Nobody could say that but Jesus. You remember in the book of the Revelation when he's talking to John.

He said to John I Jesus Will send mine angel. Nobody could say that you know he owns the angel. He could say I will send mine angel. And there are so many super sayings in this book that belong to him and.

Then there are not only wonderful sayings and super sayings. But there are divine sublime sayings. Sayings that are sublime, but divinely sublime and if I said them They would be ridiculously egotistical.

You see our Lord Jesus Christ said on one occasion. I am the truth. Didn't say I preach the truth or anything like that. He said I am the truth. And that just meant that he was the truth personified. That's a divine sublime saying.

You remember on one occasion when he faced the blind man. He said I am the light of the world. Just think of some of these sublime sayings if I said I am the light of the world I am the truth you would haunt me and you would be right.

It would be ridiculously egotistical. Now this is one of these divine sublime sayings this evening I If I'd be lifted up from the earth on the cross. Will draw all men onto me. Now I want you to look at the Lord Jesus as best you can.

Jesus’ Humble Setting and Rejection by Men

I'll help you. Just when he said this He was down at Bethany. It's a little village over the Mount of Olives. Mr. Torrance who's sitting at the back he and I went up the hill to the house that's there.

That's supposed to be the house of Mary and Martha at Bethany. And I think he remembers tonight both of us going into the kitchen of that little house. Now it's a sort of obscure place. Wasn't it wasn't in any Metropolis of the world or anything it's a tiny little sort of miserable village if you'll allow me to say it.

And I want you to think about the Lord Jesus. Not only where he said it, but when he said it you know he was standing in the midst of a great crowd and He was known as Jesus of Nazareth. Actually he was known as the preacher.

From Nazareth. Actually he was known as the stranger of Galilee actually he was better known as the carpenter son. Want you to sort of get the figure. I know that the common people heard him gladly and came and surrounded him.

But I want you to know that by the leaders of the nation. By the high priest and the priests and the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the Herodians and the whole Sanhedrin of the Jews. I want you to know he was despised and Rejected of men you know Napoleon Bonaparte.

He said something like this that the whole world would eventually come and kneel at his feet. So he thought Pity for him. He was only dreaming dreams and I know that in 1940 that Hitler prophesied is if that's the true word to use in his case prophesied to the German nation.

That the whole world would bend before them and they would be the super race of all this whole planet. That's what he thought of course Pity for him wasn't it? Course you're bound to know that down through this world's history.

Kings and rulers Politicians military leaders all say made the same thought of statement the whole world will bow before me and The man that's just started up the business in Iran just now and he thinks he'd rule the world one of these days.

What a pity for such a fool. Now we want to get the hold of this. Want you to sort of see the Lord Jesus? Want you to see Bethany. Want you to see he's despised and rejected of men. Want you to see that the cross is just looming ahead there somewhere not very far from it now and It's at that obscure spot in the midst of that obscure crowd this Carpenter's son if you'll allow me to say that Makes this marvelous sublime divinely sublime statement.

The Bethany Setting and the Crowds Seeking Miracles

Now let's get the whole foreground for this. We're at John 12, aren't we? Now we're just getting the start made properly. This one. Then Jesus Six days before the Passover came to Bethany and there are some arguments about that, you know.

Because if you take six days before the Passover you might go back to the Sabbath day. And I think you would and I don't believe he traveled on the Sabbath day on her two problems in there, too, of course if he waited till sundown and Came in the evening shadows as I believe he did there was nothing wrong anyhow, he came to Bethany and They made him a supper and Lazarus was there, you know and That verse 9 it says much people of the Jews Therefore knew that he was there and they came not for Jesus sake only.

But that they might see Lazarus also whom he had raised from the dead and I want you to take that into account As we start the story. Because they're here to Sort of see Lazarus. There's always a crowd of folk, you know at meetings.

Who are not so much taken up with the Lord? Taken up with miracles. Sort of sensational statements, you know. You can fill meetings with this sort of stuff, too. I'm there for Jesus sake at all. And then you'll find at verse 12 on the next day that's Sunday isn't it?

If Saturday is the Sabbath then that was Sunday. And if we're right that was Palm Sunday. And you always get the time here, right? If you're going to get things right and it was Palm Sunday and They took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet him and so on.

And Jesus when he had found a young ass. And so on it's Palm Sunday all and you'll find this. It says verse 17 the people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from the dead bear record.

For this cause the people also met him for that they heard that he had done this miracle. You see the crowd is gathering. Not so much for the Lord For the miracle and you can't get taken up with what we call the medical, you know and forget about the master.

And we in this place can get taken up with a message in Mr. Master. And I don't intend you to get that mistake in this place this evening. But I'm just outlining it for you. Verse 19 the Pharisees therefore said among themselves Perceive ye how ye prevail.

Nothing behold the world is gone after him. It was a crowd gathering. They didn't perceive of course why the crowd was gathering. They thought it was just the personality of the Lord Jesus. You young preachers just keep your wits about you know while I teach you something want you to get the hold of this.

The Greeks’ Request and Jesus’ Hour of Death

Now verse 20 and there were certain Greeks among them. We're leaving the Jews now and we're coming to the Greeks Gentiles. That came up to worship at the feast. The same came therefore to Philip which was off Bethsaida of Galilee and Desired him saying sir.

We would see Jesus. Aren't you to get the hold of that? Because they really want to see the Lord, you know Philip cometh and telleth Andrew and Andrew and Philip tell Jesus I Want you to steady there.

Because I think Andrew came in got the hold of him and said look I'll tell you something. There's a whole bunch of Greeks out here at the edge of the crowd and they want to see. Now there is no answer to this.

Our Lord is not naughty or insulting or anything. Just watch this carefully and Jesus answered them saying the hour is come. That the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily verily I say unto you except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die.

He immediately begins to talk about the hour of his death and he immediately begins to talk about the death of the cross. It abideth alone, but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it.

He that keepeth his life in this world shall keep it on to life eternal. If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be. If any man serve me Him will my father on.

Now is my soul troubled. He's getting near to the cross. And what shall I say? He's sort of soliloquizing with himself. Father save me from this hour. Shall I say father save me from this hour. But for this cause came I on to this hour.

This is what I came for. I came to die. I came to die on the cross. Then he looked up and said father glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorify it again the people.

Therefore that stood by and had it said that it Thundered or said an angel speak to him. Jesus answered and said This voice came not because of me but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world.

Now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I if I be lifted up on the cross I want you beyond preachers now I'm tackling each one of you because I mean to do you good. I want you to see. Just know That It's it's not the personality of Christ that you to preach.

Preaching the Cross Rather Than Jesus’ Personality

My god some of you miss it by a million miles. That doesn't drop not a bit of it. And it's not only The personality we need to watch. Oh, I know that you can preach about the knowledge of Jesus. I have done this not in gospel meetings.

Of course I know that I was in England in one of the biggest gospel campaigns. There was and two of us was left to finish it. And the other fellow was a brilliant fella. He said to me in the little back room.

You're an old-fashioned warrior. Let me go first, please. I Said okay, okay. Says Willie, will you watch me and if I go wrong, will you tell me afterwards and he preached on the hands of Christ? And I've never heard anything like it so eloquent so wonderful.

Not a scrap of gospel in it cross people. It is the cross of Christ. He had missed the cross like a thousand boys. We are preaching. No wonder there's nobody saved at times. You see Paul said Christ sent me to preach the gospel.

Not with wisdom of words lest the cross of Christ Should be made of none effect. Though how often we can get round on the sentimental things and we can talk about the hands of Christ and the feet of Christ and the face of Christ and they're all Wonderful and in their place they can be preached.

That's not the cross of Christ. That's baloney to me when I went back to the little room he said to me, how did I do. I Says the devil is no bother with you. I Says you're the greatest fool I've ever had.

You're the most eloquent young man I've ever seen. You could go on for a week without making a mistake of any kind, but you don't know the job. No. See some of our young preachers. They get all the themes of the day.

It is not the miracles. Have you been preaching. You won't get anybody saved like that. I Know this job. This is what Jesus said says these Greeks want to come to me. Is this crowd want to be really mine?

I'll tell you I if I Be lifted up. This said he signifying by what death. Let's learn to preach the cross. Oh the old man. I learned with you know, I Remember being away on the bicycle with him one evening and he read from Ezekiel.

Finding the Cross Throughout Scripture

Though a portion in Ezekiel with no cross in it at all. But surely wasn't two minutes started on Ezekiel till he was at the cross of Calvary and you should hear him preaching. And coming home I said You have to be very careful saying anything he would eat you.

I said. You know, you weren't long preaching tonight till you got around to the cross. Said I preached the cross every Sunday by fair means or foul. I'll get to the cross. You don't need to use foul means there's plenty of the cross in this book.

Now. This is what Jesus is saying. Some folks were taken up with the personality some were taken up with the miracles. God helped them, but he said I if I'd be lifted up I'll draw them these Greeks will come.

This was the answer when the Greeks wanting to see him. Oh Well, this is how they'd find them and the cross was really preached. You see I want you to get the hold of this when I was In Copenhagen. I arrived in Copenhagen one evening and the chief surgeon of the big hospital in Copenhagen all twice as big as Craighaven and He was the chief surgeon there.

He belonged to the brethren and he met us coming off the plane and said I have a big meeting ready for you Willie and Then there's a supper over at the hospital for you and and all the doctors want to meet you and there's one of these doctors he wants to translate your life story into the language of the Danes.

And I said that's fair and we had a great meeting and two or three people were gloriously saved and then I went over there and and one of the doctors wasn't saved and he said to me you know, I have a problem and I've never heard it answered and The old surgeon shook his head because he knew this fella trotted this out every time.

“All Men” Without Exception or Without Distinction

He said do you see this verse 32? I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men on to me. He said the Lord Jesus made a last statement that day and rest his neck and failed. He has not drawn all men on to him he said.

Some of Some of the preachers say that. Well, he'd either draw them in salvation or he'll draw them in the judgment hour and they try to get out of it like that. Is that what you would say? I said not at all.

I don't say that at all. I don't think that's what he was talking about even he says, you know. They have all sorts of answers to this. The Lord Jesus said I will draw all men on to me. And I can tell you that he risked his life and he failed.

I said doctor I think that you're reading into the text something that's not there. You're making it say that Jesus said I will draw all men without exception. That's what you're saying. He said sure he must have been saying that.

I said he couldn't have said that. It would be utterly impossible for him to say that because before he said that just a little while before it He had already said That those who sinned against the Holy Ghost there would be neither pardon for them in this world nor in the world to come so he Knew they wouldn't be drawn.

He had already talked about the rich man That lifted up his eyes and hell. He had already said if you die in your sins where I am you cannot come. And I went on quoting a lot of things For him. I said don't tell me he didn't know the end from the beginning.

He knew that the great white thorn would be set up one day and That many would be cast into the lake of fire and they weren't going to be drawn. He couldn't have said all men without exception. He said you have read that into that.

What the Lord Jesus is saying and what he did say is all men without distinction. That's a little bit different. Because that's what he meant. You see he has drawn all All classes of men. All creeds without distinction.

The Gospel’s Reach Across Race, Creed, Age, and Status

When I was preaching at Liverpool I can remember this. One evening at the end of the Liverpool meeting when dr Martin Lloyd-jones and I were there. I preached the gospel one evening. And I think there were about 20 people waited behind and I dealt with a crowd of them over here.

There were two young ladies. I found there were Roman Catholic schoolteachers from Dublin. There was a Negro man from Jamaica. There was a young Chinese and there was a young Japanese and they all sat around me together.

Now here is the Lord drawing them all without distinction. Yes. Not without exception doesn't mean he's all over. He wouldn't have said that he knew better. But he's drawing them without distinction of race or without distinction of creed.

You know, he has drawn men and women without distinction of party when I preached in the Faroe Isles one evening. One of the leaders of the Communist Party from Russia from Moscow preached along with me.

Now the Lord had drawn him. I preached in the Tenth Hall many years ago when the right-hand man of Gandhi the late Indian agitator was gloriously saved and he became a great preacher. I preached in Manchester on a Saturday night with a man who was an officer in the SS with with Hitler one of the Nazi leaders.

I'm sure we could go on and you'll find them all around the world. Sure, he draws without distinction of race or of creed or of age. Our own mrs. Linton who used to be here. She related here often and often how she was saved when she was just four years of age.

They say well, you know David Craig and I still believe he was the best preacher the Brethren has had for many many years. He was saved when he was six. Told me about batting down the alley and the wee fellow was bowling and he was doing well, they'd never get him out and Just as he batted he he felt he's only six wee lad.

If the Lord came now. My mommy and daddy would rise to meet him in the air and I'd be standing here with a bat and he left it down and ran. Ran in his mother's baking. Caught her by the the apron said mommy if the Lord would come up I would be left behind.

And it was there. He was gloriously saved at six. Can't you go through all the ages? Every wee granddaughter only just over eight came in the other night to say saved bless her. Yes, wee lass came in to see me tonight.

What age are you? She says I know I'm saved. Can I be baptized? Yes, you're a believer aren't you? That's what we preach in here. Bless her my dear. My she was your wee girl. Wouldn't you be proud of her?

Yes, I'll tell you this. You see I have sat by an old man's side 94 years of age while he leaned on the stick and trembled and Led him to the Savior. He can get saved at any age. You see what the Lord is saying here is not a problem at all.

It's only when you read the problem into it. Men are reading into it that the Lord is saying he will draw men without exception the whole world will get saved. Ah baloney the Lord knew better than that.

He is saying I will draw men without distinction. Without distinction of race without distinction of creed without distinction of age without distinction of standing. Our sure Queen Victoria was saved.

Our own good old King George V at the World Fair. When the great Indian from the North America sang I would rather have Jesus Than to be the king of our world empire. And when he sang this, you know people thought the king would be annoyed but just as he finished the last notes our own King got up and Came up the the island came onto the platform and put his arm around the big Indian and said I Would rather have Jesus too.

Ah, yes. Sure, you know Lord McClay was gloriously saved many a time. He kissed me. Lord Huntington met Harry Ironside at the plane when he came first to this country and all Ironside was brought up, you know in a farm in Texas.

And he was all afraid. He came down the gangway and he said look, let me get it straight. Do I call you Lord McClay? Do I say my lord or your lordship? Tell me what to say. I don't know. He said I want to tell you I'm saying and You call me John.

And I'll call you Harry. We're in the same family, you know by grace. Oh. All classes and all creeds and all colors and all ages. Yes, I want you to get the hold of this. All that we could get this message over this evening.

The Cross as Sacrifice, Forgiveness, Peace, Life, and Hope

Young man and young woman. Preaching in the Sunday school. Would a God I could knock it in D cross. Learn to preach the cross. You just think it's nice sermons and headings. Don't you you have missed it by a million miles.

Well, nobody gets a you'll have professions. You see the cross is the mighty thing. Because when you uplift the Lord Jesus on the cross I'll tell you the first thing you present to unsaved blinded sinners you present the only sacrifice for sin one sacrifice.

For sins forever. You've got to learn to preach the cross. You know when you preach the cross properly. You not only bring the sacrifice. But you know you bring forgiveness. Because there on the cross he his own self bear our sins.

He bared them away, you know, I Can stand tonight and proclaim my sins are gone. Yes, Jesus purged my sins when he hung of the cross. You see we need to learn to preach about the sacrifice. And we need to learn to preach my sins are gone because of the cross work.

We need to learn to preach to people in these days about peace that passes all understanding. It's found at the foot of the cross. Jesus made peace by the blood of his cross. What do you wonder about fiddling about for?

Need to preach the sacrifice. Need to preach the forgiveness of sins. Need to preach peace. See youngs who coming up wandering around looking at the TV. They're longing for life. I'll tell you where you'll get it at the foot of the cross.

Life for a look at the crucified one. Sure the old hemorrhoids knew better than some of you preachers. My god, we've got a lot of duds around us. Yes sacrifice. My sins are gone. Peace life. See the dying thief looking at the cross he found hope there bright hope for tomorrow.

He came to the conclusion. You are not finished here. You'll rise again the kingdom of the years. Lord when thou comest into thy kingdom remember me others hope there. Sure, you could preach hope for a night.

Couldn't you at the cross? Yeah, and it's bright hope too. You see by one offering He hath perfected forever. There are no lost again about that. That's eternal salvation. Oh. Why don't we preach it. You see friends you must uplift this crosswork the sacrifice.

My sins are gone. The peace the life the hope the perfected forever offering. You know, you must bring this bit out. I'm not my own, you know. I'm bought. Bought with a price. When I survey the wondrous cross.

The ransom was paid for me. This is what the Lord Jesus saying. Look if I if I be lifted up on the cross and this is our job to continually uplift him on the cross. Oh Amen. Without distinction without distinction of race.

Without distinction of creed without distinction of age without distinction of standing. Look friends. He's already done this. I'll tell you this you take Mohammedanism or Confucianism or Buddhism. You'll find that these religions are all centered in one part of the world and They don't make any inroads or very little on the West here.

But you take the cross work of Christ properly preached. I'll tell you you can go from Iceland. To the most southerly point you can go right from the far east right to the far west. And there's people from every part of the world.

Every kindred and tongue and people and nation are drawn. It has already happened. Hallelujah. What I say don't let people read something into the text that's not there and try to make a problem. Don't forget.

We've got a very difficult one for next Tuesday and You would need to know about it. Let's bow together before the Lord Lord we bow at thy feet. Thank thee for the cross of Calvary. Thank thee for the cross work.

No wonder Paul said God forbid that I should glory save in the cross work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord help us in our talk in our lives and everything we have to uplift the cross. Yay, Lord, may we be able to say I am crucified with Christ.

Nevertheless I live now Lord. Part us in thy fear with thy blessing and take us to our homes and safety Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 37 please. 7 3 7. Quiet Lord my forward heart. Make me teachable and mild upright simple free from art.

Make me as a little child from distrust and envy free. Pleased with all that pleases thee. 737 please.