The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abides forever: and how say you,
The Son of man must be lifted up?
who is this Son of man?
All Commentaries on John 12:34 Go To John 12
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
The Jews when they understood that our Lord spoke of His own death, asked how that could be: The people answered Him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abides for ever: and how say you, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man? Though our Lord did not call Himself the Son of man here, they remembered that He often called Himself so; as He had just before: The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. They remember this, and ask, If Christ abides forever, how will He be lifted up from the earth; i.e. How will He die upon the cross? .
Or they interpreted the word by their own intended act. It was not wisdom imparted, but conscience disturbed, which disclosed its meaning to them.
Yet alittle while is the light with you. Hence it is that you understand that Christ abides forever. Wherefore walk while you have the light, approach, understand the whole, that Christ will both die, and live for ever: do this while you have the light.
i.e. if you so believe in the eternity of Christ, as to deny His humiliation and death.
i.e. While you have any truth, believe in the truth, that you may be born again of the truth: That you may be the children of the light.
Not from those which began to believe in and love Him, but from those who saw and envied Him. When He hid Himself, He consulted our weakness, He did not derogate from His own power.
