John 8 28

John 8:28 kjv

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.

John 8:28 nkjv

Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

John 8:28 niv

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 just what the Father has taught me.

John 8:28 esv

So Jesus said to them, "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 authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.

John 8:28 nlt

So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.

John 8 verses

John 8 28 Meaning

John 8:28 conveys a pivotal declaration by Jesus regarding His identity, authority, and ultimate vindication through His crucifixion and subsequent exaltation. It states that only after "lifting up the Son of Man"—a veiled reference to His crucifixion, which simultaneously signifies His exaltation—will His adversaries fully comprehend His true nature as God incarnate, doing only the Father's will and speaking His words. This knowledge comes not from human perception alone but from the divine validation that follows His sacrificial act.

John 8 28 Context

John 8:28 is part of Jesus' prolonged and intense discourse with "the Jews" (often meaning the hostile Jewish leaders and their followers) in the temple precincts during the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) and its aftermath. This chapter records Jesus asserting His divine nature and origin (Jn 8:12, "I am the light of the world"), His unparalleled authority, and the spiritual bondage of those who reject Him. The specific setting is contentious; Jesus' claims of freedom (Jn 8:32) and pre-existence (Jn 8:58) greatly offend His audience, culminating in attempts to stone Him. Verse 28 serves as a predictive statement, anticipating a future event—His crucifixion—that will serve as the ultimate, undeniable proof of His claims, bringing profound understanding to some, and fearful realization to others. The polemic is against their limited, earthly understanding of the Messiah, their claim to spiritual freedom while being enslaved by sin, and their failure to recognize God's Son even as He stood among them.

John 8 28 Word analysis

• So Jesus said to them, (εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς - eipen oun autois ho Iēsous): Connects this statement directly to the ongoing, heated discussion, signaling a crucial point of revelation in the dialogue.

• When you lift up (ὅταν ὑψώσητε - hotan hypsōsēte):

  • ὑψώσητε (hypsōsēte): From ὑψόω (hypsoō), meaning "to lift up," "to raise," or "to exalt." This word is central to the verse's meaning.
  • In the Johannine context, this phrase carries a deliberate double meaning (Johannine irony).
    1. Crucifixion: Primarily refers to the physical act of hoisting Jesus onto the cross, lifting Him up from the earth to be executed (Jn 12:32-33). This is the immediate, historical understanding intended by His adversaries who would participate in or call for His execution.
    2. Exaltation/Glorification: Simultaneously refers to His spiritual and divine exaltation through the crucifixion and resurrection. The cross, though a symbol of shame, becomes the means of His glorification and victory over sin and death, through which He returns to the Father. This is the ultimate, divine meaning.

• the Son of Man, (τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - ton huion tou anthrōpou):

  • ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου: Jesus' most frequent self-designation, appearing over 80 times in the Gospels.
  • Biblical Significance:
    • Humanity: Emphasizes His true humanity and solidarity with mankind.
    • Divine Authority/Sovereignty: Alludes directly to Dan 7:13-14, where a "son of man" figure comes on the clouds of heaven, is given everlasting dominion, glory, and a kingdom, to be served by all peoples. This prophecy attributes divine attributes and universal rule to this figure.
    • Suffering Servant: In the Gospels, especially John, it also connects to the suffering Messiah who must undergo rejection and death. It thus links His humiliation (cross) with His ultimate glory (exaltation and kingship).

• then you will know (τότε γνώσεσθε - tote gnōsesthe):

  • τότε (tote): "Then," indicating a temporal consequence, signaling that the full realization or understanding will only come after the "lifting up."
  • γνώσεσθε (gnōsestha): From γινώσκω (ginōskō), meaning "to know," "to understand," often implying experiential or saving knowledge, not just intellectual assent. This is a profound, life-altering understanding. It is a promise of recognition for those who witnessed and rejected Him, possibly leading to repentance, or at least conviction for His enemies.

• that I am he, (ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι - hoti egō eimi):

  • ἐγώ εἰμι (egō eimi): "I AM." This is the most significant declaration.
  • Echoes Yahweh: This is a direct echo of the divine name revealed to Moses in Ex 3:14 ("I AM WHO I AM") and used frequently by God in Isaiah to declare His unique sovereignty and identity (e.g., Isa 43:10, 45:18).
  • Absolute Claim: Without a predicate (like "I am the good shepherd" or "I am the light of the world"), "I am" is an absolute claim to deity. Jesus asserts His eternal pre-existence, divine being, and sovereign existence as Yahweh Himself.
  • Boundaries: It asserts a unique, exclusive identity; Jesus claims to be none other than God, thereby identifying Himself as distinct from any human prophet or king. It implicitly establishes that salvation is tied to recognizing and believing this divine identity.

• and that I do nothing on my own authority, (καὶ ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ ποιῶ οὐδέν - kai ap' emautou poiō ouden):

  • ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ (ap' emautou): "from myself," "by my own authority," "on my own initiative."
  • ποιῶ οὐδέν (poiō ouden): "I do nothing."
  • Emphasis on Dependence: This stresses Jesus' complete reliance on the Father and the unity of His will with the Father's. Far from a limitation, this signifies the profound Trinitarian unity. He doesn't act independently of the Father because He is one with the Father in essence and purpose (Jn 10:30). His actions are divinely sanctioned and originated.

• but speak just as the Father taught me. (ἀλλὰ καθὼς ἐδίδαξέν με ὁ Πατὴρ - alla kathōs edidaxen me ho Patēr):

  • ἐδίδαξέν με (edidaxen me): "taught me."
  • Divine Origin of Teaching: Reinforces that His words are not merely human wisdom or personal opinion but direct revelation from God. His teaching authority stems entirely from His perfect union with and obedience to the Father. He is the Father's messenger, perfectly relaying the Father's message and embodying His will. This also combats any suggestion that His message is fabricated or of human origin.

John 8 28 Bonus section

The "lifting up" theme in John’s Gospel (3:14; 8:28; 12:32, 34) is a Johannine theological emphasis that links the brazen serpent in Numbers 21 with Jesus' death on the cross, establishing His crucifixion not as a defeat, but as the moment of His greatest glory, drawing all people to Himself for salvation. The Jewish leaders, in their attempt to dispose of Jesus by lifting Him up on a cross, unwittingly participated in the divine plan that would lead to His universal glorification. This prophetic irony suggests that the very means intended for His destruction would be the ultimate revelation of His divine identity and authority, transforming the symbol of Roman justice into the ultimate symbol of God's redemptive love. Their knowledge of "I Am" would thus come with an understanding of what their own hands had done (Acts 2:23, 36).

John 8 28 Commentary

John 8:28 encapsulates the essence of Jesus' mission and identity within a single, prophetic statement. The phrase "When you lift up the Son of Man" is the crux, an ironic double entendre unique to John's Gospel, where the Cross is paradoxically the throne, the moment of deepest humiliation simultaneously signifying ultimate glorification. This act of being "lifted up"—crucifixion—was deemed an execution for a blasphemer or criminal, yet it would be the precise event that authenticates Jesus' claims as God incarnate.

"Then you will know that I am he" ("I AM") asserts His divine self-revelation. It's a declaration rooted in Old Testament Yahweh theology, a profound and unmistakable claim to absolute deity. This "knowing" implies a deep, transformative understanding—either saving faith for those open to truth, or stark conviction for those who oppose Him, as they see their prophecies fulfilled and His words validated by His post-crucifixion impact and resurrection. His subsequent statement, "I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me," further clarifies the divine unity within the Godhead. His actions and words are not arbitrary or self-initiated but flow from perfect submission and intimate knowledge of the Father's will. This refutes accusations of independence or usurpation of God's authority, paradoxically proving His deity precisely through His seamless union with the Father. The crucifixion, therefore, isn't just an execution; it's the divine attestation, proving that Jesus is indeed the Father's uniquely appointed Son and Lord, fulfilling all things according to God's eternal plan.

Practical usage examples:

• It highlights that true understanding of Jesus often comes through observing His sacrifice and the subsequent vindication.
• It encourages us to recognize that Christ's authority and teaching are inherently from the Father, deserving absolute trust.