Elevators are pretty handy for lifting you up to the highest heights of a building so that you can experience breath-taking views. But, in order for you to go up, something has to come down. To increase the lift of an elevator, a counterweight must decrease in height and sink low.

Having just celebrated Easter, the cross reminds me of an elevator.

Before Jesus could rise from the grave he first had to go low. He had to endure separation from the Father as he sunk to the depths of death and bore the weight of sin. He went down to the depths of the earth. And he did it for us.

Jesus is the master of going low so that we can go high.

He didn’t stop at coming down from heaven. Jesus went all the way to the grave that we might be able to rise up to heights otherwise impossible to reach. Jesus sunk low to raise us up in hope, in love and in life. If we want to experience new heights, see new vistas and expand our horizons then “we are to grow up in every way into him” because “He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens.” (Ephesians 4:15,10a ESV)

Jesus has paved the way for us to rise up.

John understood that for us to reach the heights we were made for that there’s no way we can do it on our own. We can’t lift ourselves up through our own striving, strength or sincerity. It’s only by surrender. Jesus must increase and we must decrease (John 3:30). You can’t go high without something or someone else coming low.

You want to rise up? Go low and let Jesus take the weight. Rise in Him.