John 8:28

John 8:28-29 . Then said Jesus, When ye have lifted up the Son of man — From the earth on the cross; and have proceeded so far as to put him to a violent death, then, instead of seeing his cause and interest overborne by that outrageous attempt, shall ye know — By some new and convincing tokens; that I am he — This, doubtless, refers to the prodigies attending his death, his resurrection, and ascension, the effusion of the Holy Spirit upon his disciples, the amazing miracles wrought by the apostles in his name, and the wonderful success which he should give to the gospel through their ministry; and that I do nothing of myself — Nothing by my own authority, separate from that of my Father; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak — I teach such doctrines only as he has commissioned me to declare; and he that sent me is with me — Besides, my Father is always with me to bear his testimony to the truth of what I say, and to support and vindicate me. The Father hath not left me alone — Never from the moment I came into the world, nor will he ever leave me; for I do always those things that please him — I always act agreeably to his will, and faithfully and constantly pursue the important work which he has committed to my trust.

John 8:28 . Therefore ( οὖν ) Jesus said to them, Ὅταν … εἰμι , “when ye have lifted up the Son of Man, them shall ye know that I am He”. ὑψώσητε has the double reference of elevation on the cross and elevation to the Messianic throne, cf. John 3:14 . The people were thus to elevate Him and then they would recognise Him, Acts 2:37 , etc.— ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι “that I am He,” i.e. , “the Son of Man”. What follows is not dependent on ὅτι (against Meyer, Holtzmann, Westcott); the καὶ ἀπʼ ἐμαυτοῦ begins a new statement, as the present, ποιῶ , shows. The sequence of thought is: ye shall know that I am Messiah: and indeed I now act as such, for of myself I do nothing, but as my Father has taught me, so I speak. This is the present proof that He was Messiah.

Lifted up See on John 3:14. Ye shall know (γνώσεσθε) Render, perceive, here as in John 8:27. I am He As in John 8:24, on which see note. Of myself (ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ) Properly, from myself, as Rev., at John 7:17, but not here. See on John 7:17. Hath taught (ἐδίδαξεν) Rev., more correctly, taught. The aorist tense, regarding the teaching as a single act. Compare ἤκουσα, I heard, John 3:32. I speak these things (παῦτα λαλῶ) Not equivalent to so I speak (i.e., as the Father taught me), but an absolute declaration with reference to these present revelations.

28-30. When ye have lifted up the Son of man—The plainest intimation He had yet given in public of the manner and the authors of His death. then shall ye know that I am he, &c.—that is, find out, or have sufficient evidence, how true was all He said, though they would be far from owning it.

It is your unhappiness, that while I am alive, and preaching the gospel to you, inviting you to repentance, and faith in me, as the true Messiah, you will not believe me to be indeed what I am; but you shall lift me up upon the cross, (for that is meant by lifting up, as John 3:14 12:32 ), and when that time cometh, you shall know that I am the light of the world, as John 8:12 ; for after that, the gospel began to be preached to all nations: or, that I am the true Messiah, he whom the Father hath sent into the world. Some of you shall then know it by those signs and wonders that shall attend my death and resurrection, and to your shame and confusion: others of you shall know it to your eternal joy and salvation; believing on me then, whom you will not now acknowledge; and that what I have done, I have only done by commission from my Father, not of myself; and that what I have taught, I have had in commission from my Father to teach.

John 8:28 . Ὑψώσητε , ye shall lift up ) on the cross.— τότε ) then , not before: 1 Corinthians 2:8 , “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”— γνώσεσθε ) ye shall know from the fact, what now ye believe not on the credit of My word; John 8:24 , “I said, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.’ We read the event recorded, Matthew 27:54 , “When the centurion, and they that were with him, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly and said, Truly this was the Son of God;” Luke 23:47 , etc., “All the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts;” Acts 2:41 , “Three thousand souls—added” [to the church on Pentecost]; John 21:20 , “Thou seest how many thousands of Jews there are, which believe.”— καὶ , and ) The connection of the words is this; I am (that which at some time to come ye shall know) and I do nothing of Myself , etc. From this to the end of John 8:29 there are four sentences: The first begins with, and I of Myself ; the second with, and He who ; the third with, hath not left me ; the fourth with, because [for].

Of these the second and third are parallel; and also the first and fourth.— ποιῶ , I do ) Understand, and I speak .— καθὼς — ταῦτα , as—these things ) A similar mode of expression occurs, Numbers 32:31 , ὅσα — οὕτω , whatsoever things [the Lord hath said]— so [will we do].—See Comen. in Didact.— λαλῶ ) these things , which I speak, I speak . Understand, and I do . The one is to be supplied from the other.

28 . Then said Jesus unto them ] Better, as so often (see on John 8:21 ), Therefore said Jesus , i.e. in consequence of their gross want of perception. ‘Unto them’ is of doubtful authority. When ye have lifted up ] On the Cross: comp. John 3:14 and John 12:32 . The Crucifixion was the act of the Jews, as Peter tells them in Solomon’s Porch ( Acts 3:13-15 ). then shall ye know ] Better, then shall ye perceive . It is the same verb as is used in John 8:27 , and evidently refers back to that (comp. John 8:43 ). Had they known the Messiah they would have known His Father also ( John 14:9 ). But when by crucifying Him they have brought about His glory, then and not till then will their eyes be opened. Then will facts force upon them what no words could teach them. Comp. John 12:32 . that I am he ] See on John 8:24 . but as my Father hath taught me ] Better, but that as My Father taught Me , i.e. before the Incarnation; aorist, not perfect, like ‘heard’ in John 8:26 . The construction depending on ‘then shall ye understand’ continues to the end of this verse, and possibly down to ‘is with Me.’

(28) Then said Jesus unto them. —Better, There-fore . . . The teaching arises immediately out of the want of understanding just mentioned. When ye have lifted up the Son of man.—Better, When ye shall have lifted up . . . (Comp. Notes on John 3:14; John 6:62; John 12:32; John 12:34.) Both the Crucifixion and Ascension are implied here. Now. for the first time, they are marked out as the instruments of the Crucifixion (comp. Acts 3:15), and therefore the means by which He will return to His Father’s throne. Then shall ye know . . .—These words confirm the view that the teaching of these verses arises immediately out of their present ignorance. Then the veil will be removed. Then the death of Christ will be followed by His glory. As we read these words they impress us with that calm of assured certainty with which they are uttered (comp. John 8:12) before the events, and reminds us of the signal way in which they were fulfilled. (Comp., e.g., Notes on Matthew 23:39 and Acts 2:37.) That I am he.—Comp. Note on John 8:24. And that I do nothing of myself.—This is dependent on “know that” in the previous clause; as is the remainder of the verse, and probably the first clause of the following verse also. They will then know that He is divine, and that the acts and words which they cannot now understand are part of the divine life in union with the Father.

Now they marvel and ask, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (John 7:15): then they shall know that according as the Father taught Him, He spake these things. Now they cannot understand the witness of the Father (John 8:19): then they shall know that He that sent Him was with Him.

When ye have lifted up - When you have crucified. See John 3:14 note; also John 12:32 note. The Son of man - See the notes at Matthew 8:19-20. Then shall ye know - Then shall you have evidence or proof. That I am he - Am the Messiah, which I have professed to be. And that I do nothing of myself - That is, you shall have proof that God has sent me; that I am the Messiah; and that God concurs with me and approves my doctrine. This proof was furnished by the miracles that attended the death of Jesus - the earthquake and darkness; but chiefly by his resurrection from the dead, which proved, beyond a doubt, that he was what he affirmed he was - the Messiah.