And I,This phrase emphasizes the speaker, Jesus Christ, highlighting His authority and central role in the unfolding events. In the Gospel of John, Jesus frequently uses "I am" statements, which echo the divine name revealed to Moses in
Exodus 3:14, underscoring His divinity and messianic identity.
when I am lifted up from the earth,
The phrase "lifted up" has a dual meaning. It refers to Jesus' crucifixion, as He would be physically lifted up on the cross. This is consistent with the Roman method of execution, which was both a literal and symbolic elevation. Additionally, "lifted up" signifies His exaltation and glorification, as seen inJohn 3:14 andJohn 8:28, where Jesus speaks of being lifted up as a means of drawing people to Himself. This connects to the Old Testament, specificallyNumbers 21:9, where Moses lifted up the bronze serpent, a type of Christ's redemptive work.
will draw everyone to Myself.”
The term "draw" indicates an irresistible attraction or pulling power, suggesting the universal scope of Jesus' redemptive work. This aligns with the prophecy inIsaiah 49:6, where the Servant of the Lord is a light to the nations, bringing salvation to the ends of the earth. The use of "everyone" underscores the inclusivity of the Gospel, breaking cultural and ethnic barriers, as seen in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) and the vision of a diverse multitude inRevelation 7:9. Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection are the means by which He draws all people, offering salvation to anyone who believes in Him.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe central figure in this verse, Jesus is speaking about His impending crucifixion and the impact it will have on humanity.
2.
The CrossWhile not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the "lifting up" refers to Jesus being crucified, a pivotal event in Christian theology.
3.
The CrowdThe audience to whom Jesus is speaking, which includes both His disciples and others gathered around Him.
4.
JerusalemThe city where these events are taking place, significant as the center of Jewish worship and the location of Jesus' crucifixion.
5.
The WorldImplicit in "all men," indicating the universal scope of Jesus' drawing power through His crucifixion.
Teaching Points
The Power of the CrossJesus' crucifixion is the means by which He draws all people to Himself. It is a demonstration of God's love and justice, providing a way for reconciliation.
Universal CallThe phrase "all men" indicates the inclusive nature of the Gospel. Jesus' sacrifice is sufficient for all, and His call extends to every person, regardless of background.
Response to the CallWhile Jesus draws all men, individuals must respond to His call. This involves faith and repentance, turning towards Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Exaltation through HumilityJesus' lifting up on the cross is paradoxically His exaltation. Believers are called to follow His example of humility and service.
Evangelistic ImplicationsUnderstanding that Jesus draws all men to Himself should motivate believers to share the Gospel, trusting in the power of the cross to transform lives.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of John 12:32?
2.How does John 12:32 demonstrate Jesus' role in drawing people to salvation?
3.What does "lifted up from the earth" signify about Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection?
4.How does John 12:32 connect with John 3:14-15 about Jesus' purpose?
5.In what ways can we help "draw all men" to Christ today?
6.How does understanding John 12:32 impact your personal evangelism efforts?
7.What does "I will draw all men to Myself" mean in John 12:32?
8.How does John 12:32 relate to the concept of universal salvation?
9.Why is the crucifixion central to the message of John 12:32?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from John 12?
11.What did Jesus mean by "If I be lifted up"?
12.What did Jesus mean by 'If I be lifted up'?
13.Why does John 12:32–33 emphasize “lifting up” as a means of drawing people, considering the historical context of crucifixion practices and Jewish expectations of a Messiah?
14.What is prevenient grace?What Does John 12:32 Mean
And I• Jesus Himself is speaking, underscoring His unique authority. Like His words inJohn 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life”, this first phrase fixes attention on the Son of God rather than on any human program or effort.
• “And I” links back to the context of verses 30–31, where Jesus has just declared the impending judgment of the world and the casting out of the ruler of this world. Only the incarnate Son can accomplish that;Colossians 1:17–19 reminds us that “in Him all things hold together”.
• The emphasis is personal: salvation is not an abstract concept but a Person.Hebrews 1:3 echoes this, calling Him “the radiance of God’s glory.” When we read “I,” we are invited to look exclusively to Christ for life, forgiveness, and victory.
when I am lifted up from the earth• The phrase foretells the literal, physical crucifixion. Earlier, Jesus connected this imagery to Moses lifting the bronze serpent (John 3:14–15), showing that just as looking at the serpent brought healing, looking to the crucified Savior brings eternal life.
• InJohn 8:28 Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He”. The cross would unveil His identity and mission with unmistakable clarity.
• “Lifted up” also carries the note of exaltation.Philippians 2:8–9 ties the humiliation of the cross to the Father’s act of exalting Him above every name. The crucifixion is not defeat but the planned pathway to glory.
• From a literal standpoint, Jesus was indeed raised above ground on a wooden beam (Matthew 27:35). His followers could point to a historical, observable event rather than a mystical idea.
will draw everyone• The promise that He “will draw” is certain.John 6:44 affirms, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him”; here the Son declares He Himself will do that drawing. Father and Son act in perfect unity.
• “Everyone” does not teach automatic salvation for all, but rather a universal invitation that transcends ethnicity, gender, social standing, or past sin.Revelation 5:9 celebrates those “from every tribe and tongue and people and nation”.
•1 Timothy 2:4 says God “desires all people to be saved”. Yet the same Gospel of John stresses personal faith (John 3:16, 12:36). The net is cast wide, but each person must believe.
• The drawing is persuasive, not coercive.John 16:8 shows the Spirit convicting “the world,” whileActs 16:14 gives an example: “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message”. Christ’s crucifixion, proclaimed through the gospel, graciously tugs at the heart.
to Myself• The goal is relationship.John 14:3 captures it: “I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am”.
• Salvation is coming “near” to Christ, asEphesians 2:13 affirms: “You who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ”.
• Union with Christ satisfies the deepest longing of the human soul.John 15:4 exhorts, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you”.
• The destination is not merely heaven but the Savior Himself.1 Peter 3:18 says Christ suffered “to bring you to God”. Eternal life is knowing Him (John 17:3), begun now and perfected in glory.
summaryJohn 12:32 is Jesus’ confident declaration that His crucifixion would stand as God’s appointed means to draw all kinds of people to a saving, life-giving relationship with Himself. The Son, lifted up on the cross and later exalted, personally initiates and accomplishes this drawing. Our hope rests entirely on the historical, literal work of Christ and His ongoing call that still reaches every corner of the world today.
(32)
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth.--The pronoun is strongly emphatic. "And
I," in opposition to the prince of this world; the conqueror in opposition to the vanquished foe. The conditional form, "If I be lifted up," answers to the "troubled soul" of
John 12:27. He knows that it will be so, but He leaves the future to declare its own truths. Comp. the phrases, "If it be possible," "If this may not pass away from Me" (
Matthew 26:39;
Matthew 26:42), and Note on
John 14:3. The words "lifted up" have occurred before in
John 3:14;
John 8:28; but the context here shows that they include the thought of the ascension into heaven. It is from the heavenly throne that the Messiah will rule over His spiritual kingdom. . . .
Verses 32, 33. -
And I, if I be lifted out of (or,
from)
the earth, will draw all (men)
to myself. Now this he spake, signifying by what death he was about to die.
Ὑψωθῶ has been by Meyer, as well as many of the Fathers, referred to the Lord's resurrection and ascension. The
ἐκ τῆς γῆς would certainly be in favor of it, and be a possible rendering if we hold (with Westcott and others) that resurrection and uplifting from the earth involve and presuppose a previous death, or that John always speaks of Christ's death as itself a glorious thing, as itself the commencement of the supreme glory of the Son of man. On the other hand - though this idea is reiterated by the opponents of the Fourth Gospel - there is nothing in the New Testament which makes the cross of Christ in itself a symbol of the exaltation of Jesus. Moreover, the next verse compels a closer reference to "the way in which he was about to die" - a mode of departure admirably expressed by the term "uplifting." The language of Jesus to Nicodemus, in which the same word occurs in describing the lifting up of the Son of man after the fashion in which the serpent was uplifted in the wilderness, confirms this interpretation of the evangelist, which we have no claim to traverse (cf. also
John 18:32;
John 21:19). Christ declared that the attraction of the cross would be mightier than all the fascination of the prince of this world. The word
ἐλκύσω, "I will draw," is applied elsewhere (
John 6:44) to the Father's work of grace, which preveniently prepares men to come to Christ. In these words we learn that the attraction of the cross of Christ will prove to be the mightiest and most sovereign motive ever brought to bear on the human will, and, when wielded by the Holy Spirit as a revelation of the matchless love of God, will involve the most sweeping judicial sentence that can be pronounced upon the world and its prince. In
John 16:11 the belief or the conviction that the prince of this world has been already condemned (
κέκριται) is one of the great results of the mission of the Comforter.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
And I,κἀγὼ(kagō)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2504:To also, I too, but I. From kai and ego; so also the dative case kamoi, and accusative case kame and I, me.whenἐὰν(ean)Conjunction
Strong's 1437:If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.I am lifted upὑψωθῶ(hypsōthō)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5312:(a) I raise on high, lift up, (b) I exalt, set on high. From hupsos; to elevate.fromἐκ(ek)Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.theτῆς(tēs)Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.earth,γῆς(gēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093:Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.will drawἑλκύσω(helkysō)Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1670:To drag, draw, pull, persuade, unsheathe. Or helko hel'-ko; probably akin to haireomai; to drag.all [men]πάντας(pantas)Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.toπρὸς(pros)Preposition
Strong's 4314:To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.Myself.”ἐμαυτόν(emauton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1683:Genitive case compound of emou and autos; of myself so likewise the dative case emautoi em-ow-to', and accusative case emauton em-ow-ton'.
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NT Gospels: John 12:32 And I if I am lifted up (Jhn Jo Jn) 
