John 8:28
“Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.”
What does John 8:28 mean?
Jesus is speaking about his crucifixion, which his listeners don't yet understand will happen. When he says "lifted up," he means being raised on the cross, and he's saying that through this painful, shameful event, people will finally grasp who he truly is. In that moment of apparent defeat, his identity and mission will become clear. The second part reveals something essential about Jesus' relationship with God: he's not acting independently or out of his own will, but living out exactly what God the Father has shown him and taught him. It's a picture of perfect trust and alignment, where Jesus models complete dependence on God rather than self-direction. For those who feel lost or unsure how to live, this hints that our deepest purpose comes not from our own plans, but from listening to and following God's wisdom.