I Was Jesus’ One

Back in August, the church where I pastor went through an emphasis called “Who’s Your One?” We asked God to put someone on our heart who does not know Jesus in a personal way that we would be praying for and talking to about the salvation that is available in Christ. We are still asking each other, “Who’s Your One?”

If you have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, aren’t you glad that there came a time in your life that you were Jesus’ one? When I was hopelessly lost, Jesus came looking for me. When I was incapable of saving myself, Jesus came and rescued me. When sin had overtaken me, Jesus brought forgiveness and redemption. When I desperately needed a Savior, Jesus came to be that Savior and revealed Himself to me as that Savior. The only reason I am saved is because in my lostness I became Jesus’ one.

John 12:32-33 records Jesus saying this: “‘As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.” Here is the profound truth of what Jesus said…He would draw us unto Himself. He would come to where we are and lead us to where He is. He will come to me, show Himself to me, and draw me to Him.

This verse highlights two important realizations. First, He had to draw me. I would have never been able to find Him on my own because I would have never gone looking for Him on my own. Sin, selfishness, and pride blind us to the life that is only found in Christ. Unless He draws, we will completely miss Him.

Second, He had to die for the drawing to be complete. The “lifted up” that Jesus speaks of is His choosing to sacrifice Himself for me. Verse 33 explains that Jesus was indicating “the kind of death he was about to die.” Being lifted up spoke of His being hoisted on a cross. This was a cross of agony and indignity, but also a cross of love.

Through this horrific death, the beauty of drawing can come. Because He died on the cross, He could draw me. If He hadn’t drawn me, I would have never come. The time came in my life that I was the “one” of Jesus. At that time, when Jesus was asked, “Who’s Your One?” He would have responded, “Jeff.”

He has done that same work in many, many others. If you are also saved through the redemptive work of Christ, the day came, the season of your life came, the orchestrating of circumstances came, the revelation from Him and the realization of Him came in just the right way at just the right time when Jesus Christ would have responded to the question, “Who’s Your One?” by saying your name.

You were His one.

(Questions/Responses: jeff.perkins@mbclife.org)