“Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”
My Notes
What Does John 8:28 Mean?
"Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." Jesus predicts his crucifixion using the phrase "lifted up" — a double meaning that refers both to physical elevation on the cross and to glorification. The crucifixion, which his enemies will perform as an act of destruction, will actually become the proof of his identity.
"Then shall ye know that I am he" — the ego eimi ("I am") echoes God's self-identification to Moses. Jesus is saying that the cross will prove he is who he claims to be. The very act his enemies intend as his defeat will become the definitive revelation of his divinity. The cross isn't where Jesus fails; it's where everything he's said becomes undeniable.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What in your life that was meant to destroy you might actually be revealing something important about who God is?
- 2.How does the double meaning of 'lifted up' (crucifixion and glorification) change how you view suffering?
- 3.What does it mean that the proof of Jesus' identity came through his death, not his power?
- 4.When have you seen God turn something intended for harm into something that proved his presence?
Devotional
"When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know." Jesus is telling his enemies: the very thing you're going to do to destroy me is going to prove I'm God.
The cross was supposed to end the Jesus problem. Kill the teacher, scatter the students, close the chapter. Instead, the cross became the hinge of history. The lifting up that was meant to display Rome's power displayed God's love. The execution that was supposed to silence Jesus has been spoken about every single day for two thousand years.
"Then shall ye know that I am he." I am. The name God gave Moses at the burning bush. Jesus stands in front of people who want him dead and says: when you kill me, that's when you'll finally understand who I am. The proof is in the death. The evidence is in what happens after.
If you're in a situation where it looks like your enemy is winning — where the thing meant to destroy you is being "lifted up" for everyone to see — this verse says the story isn't over. God has a pattern of turning instruments of destruction into monuments of identity. The cross that was supposed to end Jesus became the symbol recognized by every civilization on earth. What's being lifted up against you might become the very thing that reveals who God is in your life.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Then said Jesus to those Jews that believed on him,.... For he knew instantly who they were, and when they believed on…
When ye have lifted up - When you have crucified. See Joh 3:14 note; also Joh 12:32 note. The Son of man - See the notes…
When ye have lifted up - When ye have crucified me, and thus filled up the measure of your iniquities, ye shall know…
Christ here gives fair warning to the careless unbelieving Jews to consider what would be the consequence of their…
Then said Jesus unto them Better, as so often (see on Joh 8:8), Therefore said Jesus, i.e. in consequence of their gross…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture