John 8:28
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So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
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.
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. Christ's evading the snare which the Jews laid for him, in bringing to him a woman taken in adultery (Joh 8:1-11). II. Divers discourses or conferences of his with the Jews that cavilled at him, and sought occasion against him, and made every thing he said a matter of controversy. 1. Concerning his being the light of the world (Joh 8:12-20). 2. Concerning the ruin of the unbelieving Jews (Joh 8:21-30). 3. Concerning liberty and bondage (Joh 8:31-37). 4. Concerning his Father and their father (Joh 8:38-47). 5. Here is his discourse in answer to their blasphemous reproaches (Joh 8:48-50). 6. Concerning the immortality of believers (Joh 8:51-59). And in all this he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself.
Open source ↗8:28 The synoptic Gospels describe Jesus as predicting his death three times (e.g., Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34). John parallels this (John 3:14; 8:28; 12:33-34), showing that the Father governs his Son’s fate.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me.”
There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.
Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me;
That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”