The Son of Man “Lifted Up” in John’s Gospel (2) - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He."
John 8:28

The Son of Man "Lifted Up" in John's Gospel (2)
This is the second occasion in John's Gospel in which the Lord speaks about being lifted up—specifically that they would lift Him up as the Son of Man, the first occasion being found in John 3:14. The term Son of Man was often used by the Lord Jesus in reference to His rejection and sufferings, or when speaking of His glorious second coming and kingdom. Christ's sufferings and glory are the two characteristic features of that name. This can be seen in the first mention and the last mention of the "Son of Man" in the New Testament. Strikingly, both references focus on the blessed head of our Lord.

In the first mention, the Lord Jesus responds to a statement of a would-be disciple that he was willing to follow the Lord . Christ replied that the animals have their resting places but He, as the rejected Son of Man, had nowhere to "lay His head." In the last mention of the Son of Man, we see the head of the Lord mentioned again: Jesus is crowned with a golden crown (Rev. 14:14). The time for the harvest of the earth has come. The Son of Man will come in power and great glory (Mt. 24:30; Dan. 7:13-14); these references show both His sufferings and His glory.

In our text the Lord is having a lengthy dialogue with the Pharisees. These religious critics just didn't understand the Lord Jesus; He says to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man," predicting their part in having Him crucified. How solemn, that mankind is responsible, humanly speaking, for the death of Christ! But also, "you will know that I am He"; it is through this they could potentially know that He is who He claimed to be—what grace! Indeed, even as He spoke of being lifted up, "many believed in Him" (Jn. 8:30).

Brian Reynolds