d Isaiah, because he saw His glory; and he spake of
Him. Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on Him; but
because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should
be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the glory of men more
than the glory of God. And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth
on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me. And he that
beholdeth Me beholdeth Him that sent Me. I am come a light into the
world, that whosoever believeth on Me may not abide in the darkness.
And if any man hear My sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not:
for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that
rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My sayings, hath One that judgeth
him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last
day. For I spake not from Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He
hath given Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should
speak. And I know that His commandment is life eternal: the things
therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto Me, so I
speak."--JOHN xii. 37-50.

In this Gospel the death of Christ is viewed as the first step in His
glorification. When He speaks of being "lifted up," there is a double
reference in the expression, a local and an ethical reference.[6] He is
lifted up on the cross, but lifted up on it as His true throne and as
the necessary step towards His supremacy at God's right hand. It was,
John tells us, with direct reference to the cross that Jesus now used
the words: "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me." The Jews,
who heard the words, perceived that, whatever else was contained in
them, intimation of His removal from earth was given. But, according to
the current Messianic expectation, the Christ "abideth for ever," or at
any rate for four hundred or a thousand years. How then could this
Person, who announced His immediate departure, be the Christ? The Old
Testament gave them ground for supposing that the Messianic reign would
be lasting; but had they listened to our Lord's teaching they would have
learned that this reign was spiritual, and not in the form of an earthly
kingdom with a visible sovereign.

Accordingly, although they had recognised Jesus as the Messiah, they
are again stumbled by this fresh declaration of His. They begin to fancy
that perhaps after all by calling Himself "the Son of man" He has not
meant exact